'At Least 7 Dead' Kabul Airport in Chaos Amid Escape Crowd... "More Severe Than Saigon Evacuation"

Airport Paralyzed as Crowds Flee... Citizens Clinging to Aircraft
US "Consulting with Taliban to Resolve Airport Crisis"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the Taliban swiftly took control of the Afghan government, Kabul International Airport became chaotic with the massive crowds trying to flee Afghanistan.

As a result, all civilian and military flights were temporarily suspended, and the situation rapidly worsened with at least seven civilians reported dead. U.S. authorities stated they are in talks with the Taliban to resolve the Kabul airport crisis.

According to foreign media on the 16th (local time), the large influx of citizens trying to escape Afghanistan at Kabul airport caused all civilian and military flights to be temporarily halted.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Thousands of citizens who gathered from early dawn took over the airport runway, and scenes of people pushing their way into open passenger planes were captured.

[Photo by Twitter capture]

Some citizens, unable to use the boarding stairs, were seen clinging to the stair railings trying to board the aircraft, and there were incidents where people attempted to escape by hanging under the planes, resulting in fatal falls.

Satellite image taken on the 16th (local time) showing thousands of citizens occupying the runway at Kabul Airport, the capital of Afghanistan. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

One media outlet reported, "Two people were seen falling from the aircraft wheels."

As the crowd prevented passenger planes from taking off, airport authorities temporarily suspended all civilian flights that afternoon.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Following this, John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, announced that all military flights were also suspended that day.

The horrific situation at Kabul airport has been assessed as even more severe than the 'Saigon evacuation' just before the fall of South Vietnam in 1975.

A satellite image taken on the 16th (local time) showing vehicles crowded at the intersection outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, where residents arrived to escape abroad.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) described the Kabul airport situation as "Saigon on steroids."

As the airport situation escalated rapidly, U.S. troops fired warning shots to drive away Afghans attempting to enter the runway, but it was insufficient to resolve the crisis.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. troops guarding Kabul airport shot and killed two armed men that day. Another foreign media outlet reported, "Gunfire presumed to be from U.S. forces was heard at the airport, and several Afghans are believed to have died as a result."

A U.S. official said, "The crowd at the airport was out of control. The gunfire was intended to ease the chaos."

The AP reported that at least seven people died, including those who fell from aircraft and those killed by U.S. gunfire.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the same day, a U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff official explained that about 2,500 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Kabul, and the number could increase to 3,500 within 24 hours. The official said, "We are focused on maintaining airport security to protect Americans and Afghan civilians while ensuring continued flight operations."

CNN reported that with most Afghans who entered the runway being driven out by U.S. forces, operations at Kabul airport have now resumed.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, U.S. authorities are reportedly in talks with the Taliban to resolve the Kabul airport crisis.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, told reporters that day, "We are in discussions with the Taliban" and "We have achieved productive results."

He added that as long as the safety of those remaining at the airport is maintained, efforts will continue to evacuate as many people as possible from Afghanistan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.