First evacuation flight from Kabul since US exit lands in Doha

Doha - Qatar Airways Boeing 777 had around 113 passengers including Americans, Canadians, Germans and Ukrainians

Around 100 passengers including Americans arrived in Doha after flying from Kabul airport on Thursday, the first flight ferrying out foreigners since a US-led evacuation ended.

Doha, a major transit point for Afghan refugees, has said it worked with Turkey to swiftly resume operations at Kabul’s airport to allow the flow of people and aid.

The arrival at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport was the first successful flight of its type since the chaotic airlift of more than 120,000 people concluded last month.

“I didn’t even fall asleep and we landed,” said one Canadian passenger who gave her name only as Elaha.

“The situation in Kabul was unpredictable and very uncomfortable,” she added after disembarking an airport bus.

The Qatar Airways Boeing 777 had “around 113” passengers including Americans, Canadians, Germans and Ukrainians, with all passengers due to be received at a compound for Afghan refugees in Doha, a source with knowledge of the operation told AFP.

Sources had earlier said that as many as 200 people were aboard, while London said 13 British nationals were on the flight.

A turbaned man with a suitcase was followed by three veiled, masked women off the plane and onto the tarmac at Qatar’s civilian airport, while other arrivals struggled with luggage.

The passengers who included several children, some of whom filmed their arrival, were directed to an airport bus to begin the next leg of their journey to a Qatari holding facility before returning to their home countries.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani praised the Taliban for allowing the flight.

“We managed to fly the first plane with passengers... we thank (the Taliban) for their cooperation,” Sheikh Mohammed said in televised remarks.