Trending photos shared online revealed how nearly 640 fleeing Afghans were crammed onto the US Air Force transport plane, a figured that outnumbered what the giant aircraft was designed to carry.
C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft was designed to carry 134 passengers, including 54 on side seats and 80 on pallets on the floor
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft was designed to carry 134 passengers, including 54 on side seats and 80 on pallets on the floor, or 170,000 pounds of equipment, according to Boeing.
A defence official told military news site Defense One, which obtained the image, that :
“The crew made the decision to go,”
“Approximately 640 Afghan civilians disembarked the aircraft when it arrived at its destination.”
Video of the packed plane was also shared. An Air traffic radio captures an official discussing the flight with someone on the plane.
“OK, how many people do you think are on your jet? … 800 people on your jet? … Holy f***, holy cow…” the official says.
The Taliban is now firmly in control of Afghanistan and its capital city, Kabul. We earlier reported that the Russian embassy in Kabul alleged that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled from the country with four cars and helicopter full of cash.
Ashraf Ghani reportedly couldn’t fit all the money in the helicopter, and forcing him to leave some behind on the tarmac.