Five American soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed in strife-torn Afghanistan last evening.

Islamabad, March 12/Nationalturk – At least five American soldiers were killed when the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in strife-torn Afghanistan last evening.

“The helicopter (UH-60 Black Hawk) crash occurred in Southern Afghanistan on Monday evening.  The cause of the crash is under investigation,” said a statement issued by NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

It, however, said initial reports indicate that there was no enemy (Taliban) activity in the area at the time of the crash.

Meanwhile, media reports quoting an unnamed US official said all five dead were American soldiers. “The helicopter crashed in Kandahar city, the capital of Kandahar province,” the official said.

Helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Afghanistan, where Taliban and other militant groups are fighting ISAF and Afghan forces.

It was deadliest helicopter crash since August 2012

Monday’s US copter crash was the deadliest helicopter crash in Afghanistan since August 2012, when a US military helicopter crashed during a firefight with Taliban militants, causing death of seven Americans and four Afghans.

Earlier, in March 2012, a helicopter crashed near Kabul, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and four Afghan civilians on the ground.

The worst copter crash involving US soldiers in Afghanistan had taken place in August 2011, when Taliban militants shot down a Chinook helicopter in Wardak province of central Afghanistan. At least 30 American soldiers, mostly elite Navy Seals, were killed in the crash.

Write your comments and thoughts below

Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Afghanistan News

[adrotate banner=”46″]