- Title: AFGHANISTAN: U.S. coalition chopper crashes in Afghanistan
- Date: 18th February 2007
- Summary: (BN10) BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN (FEBRUARY 18, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS U.S MILITARY SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL, DAVID ACCETTA, STANDING WITH COLLEAGUE ; CLOSE UP HANDGUN STRAPPED TO UNIFORM
- Embargoed: 6th March 2007 02:42
- Keywords:
- Location: Afghanistan
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVADJVPIPFUXOM783NXAH3S36DJ8
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: An American helicopter crashed in southeast Afghanistan on Sunday (February 18, 2007), but military officials could not say exactly where, what type of helicopter it was, nor how many people were aboard. They so far have no information about casualties.
Some media reports said it was a Chinook, a twin-rotor craft used for ferrying troops and equipment.
A search for the helicopter and its occupants had been launched, a spokesman for the U.S. -led force said.
"There is no indication that this was due to enemy fire. A search and rescue operation for helicopter and its occupants is on going and an investigation will be conducted into the cause of the incident," said U.S military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Accetta.
Residents in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province, said the chopper crashed there. Taliban insurgents, who are active in the southern province on the border with Pakistan, claimed they shot the aircraft down with a missile.
The Taliban have made similar claims in the past that were not substantiated. The last confirmed downing of a foreign helicopter by rebels was in 2005.
International forces have lost several helicopters since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, but the 2005 incident was the only confirmed case of one lost due to hostile action. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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