Reach 871, a C-17 Globemaster III massive military cargo plane used by the US and its allies for the past 30 years, flew from Kabul International Airport late on Sunday, local time.

According to US defence officials, and photos obtained by Defence One, the crew safely evacuated more than 640 Afghan people.

Authorities believe the passenger load was likely one of the largest ever flown by a C-17.

The cargo plane had not been planning on carrying so many passengers however hundreds of Afghans, cleared to evacuate, managed to pull themselves up onto the aircraft’s half-open ramp.

A video posted on Sunday showed Afghans already in the plane pulling other people up as they all crowded around the aircraft.