Afghan Army helicopter crash injures 9

Afghan Army helicopter crash injures 9

2011-05-11 19:02:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

ASADABAD, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- An Afghan National Army (ANA) helicopter on Wednesday crashed in the eastern region of the country, injuring nine soldiers, officials said.

The accident occurred at around 12:15 p.m. local time, when the ANA helicopter crashed into a tree in Paroon, Nuristan, while four helicopters were landing inside a compound of National Directorate of Security, Nuristan governor Jamaluddin Badr told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The cause of the accident remains unclear, but Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed militants had shot down a helicopter, killing several foreign troops.

The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing, but the helicopter eventually crashed into the tree, injuring nine people, including the pilot, as two were reported in serious condition and were taken to Kabul for medical treatment.

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