Afghan officials reported that a young player died after attempting to sneak away aboard a US military jet departing Kabul airport.

Zaki Anwari, 19, was a member of the Afghan national youth squad.

The exact date of his death has not been revealed.

Thousands of people have flocked to Kabul's airport since the Taliban reclaimed Afghanistan, as Western countries hurry to evacuate their nationals and Afghan colleagues.

Hundreds of people were seen rushing alongside a US air force jet as it flew down a runway on Monday. Some passengers were spotted hanging to the side of the vehicle.

According to local media accounts, at least two passengers died after the plane took off. Human remains were discovered in the landing gear of an airplane after it arrived in Qatar, according to the US Air Force.

Afghanistan's General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports paid homage to Mr. Anwari in a Facebook post.

"May he rest in heaven and pray to God for his family, friends, and sports colleagues," the sports organization stated.

Others have sent their tributes on social media as well.

"His departure is a great sorrow," one Instagram user said. "Your memory is always dear to me"

Around 4,500 US forces are stationed at Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, on a temporary basis.

The Taliban are preventing Afghans without travel documents from entering the airport, but even those with legal authorization have had difficulty.

US President Joe Biden defended his handling of the US departure from Afghanistan amid tumultuous scenes at the airport.

"I don't know how that happens," he told ABC News on Wednesday, "the idea that there's a way to have gotten out without chaos erupting."

Mr. Biden stated that US forces may be required to remain in Afghanistan beyond the agreed-upon date of August 31 in order to assist with evacuations.