A USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft evacuated around 800 people out of Kabul airport after the Taliban took control of the city.
Since the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, thousands of people have amassed on the runway of Kabul-Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL) in an attempt to flee the country.
Two armed people were killed by US forces trying to secure the airport as the evacuation is ongoing. A stampede also made several victims.
Footage emerged online of people desperately clinging onto departing aircraft before falling off.
RCH871, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft sent by the United States Air Force to evacuate people out of the city, reportedly took off with around 800 people on board. Its final destination is unknown.
Update: can confirm this is the correct number expected to be aboard… 800 souls outbound USAF C-17A RCH871 from Kabul, Afghanistan!
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) August 15, 2021
Thank you to @geoff_mcmaw for providing me with the information! Thank you also to the crew of C-17A 01-0186 for their amazing work! https://t.co/fhMxt0iSiJ
As a reminder, in nominal conditions, this aircraft is meant to transport a maximum of 134 troops.
Announced by US President Joe Biden in April 2021, the withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan began on May 1, 2021, and was supposed to continue until September of the same year. However, the collapse of the Afghan National Army under the Taliban advance led to an early evacuation of the country.
On August 15, 2021, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani escaped the country to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent.
