Teenage Body 'Found In Landing Gear Of US Plane' Identified As Afghan National Footballer

The remains of a body found in the landing gear of a US aircraft that left Kabul have been identified as 19-year-old footballer Zaki Anwari.

Anwari, who had represented Afghanistan at national youth level, was one of many people who desperately tried to flee the region by rushing to Kabul airport following the Taliban's recent takeover.

Thousands of citizens swarmed the airport, doing anything they could to try and get on an airplane and evacuate the dangerous area.

Some managed to climb into a bay on the aircraft which holds the landing gear while others who held onto the outside of the plane sadly fell to their deaths once it took off.

But according to East2West News, even those within the landing gear bay weren't safe with bodies later being discovered once the plane had touched down in Qatar - the remains of Anwari being one of them.

"Very sad to hear that one of the youths who tried to leave Kabul through grabbing the landing gear bay of a USAF's C-17A transport aeroplane few days ago was a player of Afghanistan's National youth soccer team, Zaki Anwari," local journalist Babak Taghvaee said in a tweet.

"His body parts was found in the landing gear bay."

Meanwhile, other reports suggested Anwari actually died after falling from the plane.

In a translated statement, Afghanistan's General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports said: "Anwari, like thousands of Afghan youths, wanted to leave the country but fell off a US plane and died."

The Khorasan Lions, the Afghan national team, also confirmed his tragic death in a post in social media.

"Two days before and after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, to go to America and find a better future, he rode on the wheels of the American aeroplane with several other compatriots who fell to the ground while flying with several other compatriots," the team said.

"May his soul rest in peace and his memory be remembered."

Friends, family, football fans and former teammates flocked to social media to pay tribute to Anwari, who by all accounts was a talented player with a bright future ahead of him.

In a chilling final Facebook post before his sad passing, Anwari said: "You're the painter of your life. Don't give the paint brush to anyone else."

Rest In Peace, Zaki.

Topics: Football News, Football, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry