US helicopter crashes on Afghan operation

KABUL (Reuters) – A U.S. military CH-47 Chinook helicopter
crashed during an operation in Afghanistan on Sunday, the U.S.
military said, adding it had no word on any casualties.

The helicopter crashed southwest of the south central
district of Dai Chophan, a military statement said, adding that
the cause of the crash was not known.

“U.S. military ground forces are at the crash scene
providing security, and recovery operations are ongoing,” it
said.

U.S. military spokesman Captain Paul Haverstick said he had
no information on any casualties.

It was not the first crash of a U.S. Chinook in
Afghanistan.

In June, an MH-47 helicopter — a special forces version of
the CH-47 — was shot down during an anti-guerrilla mission in
the eastern province of Kunar, killing all 16 U.S. soldiers on
board.

In April, a CH-47 helicopter crashed during a dust storm in
Ghazni province, killing 15 American servicemen and three
civilian contractors.

Last month, a Spanish military helicopter crashed near the
western city of Herat, killing all 17 Spanish soldiers on
board. Spain’s defense ministry said hostile fire was unlikely
to have been the cause of that crash.