NATO chopper crashes in Afghanistan

A US military Chinook helicopter prepares to unload supplies at Combat Outpost (COP) Sabari in Khost province in the east of Afghanistan on June 23, 2011.

A NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter has crashed in Afghanistan's southern province of Zabul.  "The landing site has been secured and all personnel are accounted for. There are no casualties reported," said an ISAF press release, adding that they are investigating the cause of the incident that took place on Thursday, Xinhua reported on Friday.

Zabul province is located some 340 kilometers south of Afghan capital Kabul and most of the foreign forces stationed there are reportedly Americans.  The ISAF has declined to provide further information about the crash. However, the Taliban have reportedly claimed responsibility for the crash, saying they have downed the NATO chopper, 'killing all on board.'

A French Army Gazelle chopper crashed on June 10 about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Bagram in northern Afghanistan in difficult weather conditions. A flight lieutenant died and the pilot was seriously injured. Two US-led soldiers died when a US OH-58 Kiowa helicopter went down in the Sabari District of Khost Province on June 5.  At least 263 US-led soldiers have so far been killed in Afghanistan this year, according to icasualties.

MA/MB Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:54AM

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