Teenage Afghan Footballer Zaki Anwari Falls To Death From US Aircraft In Kabul

Zaki Anwari, 19, played football for Afghanistan’s national youth team. He died a tragic death trying to cling on to a US aircraft that was taking off from Kabul airport. The General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, Afghanistan confirmed his death. 

His remains were found in one US Air Force C-17 cargo plane. Anwari was just like the thousand Afghanis who were trying to flee from Kabul. As per AFP, his remains were found in the landing gear of an aircraft after it arrived in Qatar. As per multiple reports, Zaki’s body was found in the landing gear that closes when the wheels are retracted. The crew of the plane had to make an emergency landing in Qatar when there was some problem in the landing gear. It was found out later that there was a human body stuck in the fuselage of the landing gear. The body was identified to be of Zaki Anwari’s. 

The news was confirmed by Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports on Facebook. “May he rest in heaven and pray to God for his family, friends and sports colleagues,” the sports body said. 

#ZakiAnwari, a 19 year old Afghan who played in the national junior football team died as he fell from a US army plane, according to this post from the #Afghanistan Sports Society. A young man with much promise and talent. What a tragic way to die. pic.twitter.com/JelXsKM1fV

— Anand Dubey (@Anand1437_) August 19, 2021

Remembering the deceased footballer, a social media user wrote: “A young man with much promise and talent. History will remember this tragic event.” 

Scenes of absolute desperation in #Kabul airport today: Afghan civilians chase & cling to US C-17 plane in last attempt to flee Afghanistan.

At least one body fell from aircraft wing, after a stampede by runway. Very dark moment for country: pic.twitter.com/PrNqsHo0Wc

— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 16, 2021

There were horrific visuals of people trying to flee from Kabul everywhere on social media. Local media even reported the deaths of two people by falling from an aircraft who were trying to flee from Afghanistan.