NATO: Helicopter crash at Afghan base kills 16

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Source: Associated Press

NATO: Helicopter crash at Afghan base kills 16

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer – 27 mins ago

KABUL – A Russian-owned civilian helicopter crashed during takeoff at southern Afghanistan's largest NATO base Sunday, killing 16 civilians in the latest in a string of deadly aircraft crashes in the country. A U.S. military helicopter also made an emergency landing in the country's east. A military spokeswoman said there was no insurgent fire involved.

There were no indications that the crash of the Mi-8 helicopter at southern Kandahar Air Field was caused by hostile fire, military officials said. A NATO statement said 16 people died in the crash and that the conditions of five additional casualties weren't immediately known.

No military personnel were wounded or killed, NATO said.

The Russian news agency Interfax said the Mi-8 was owned by the Russian air company Vertikal-T. Interfax said there were 20 people aboard the craft and the survivors included three crew members and two passengers. The discrepancy in the death counts could not immediately be explained.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090719/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

[FreakinDJ]

1. Wouldn't it be a Bitch if they had some "Stingers" left over

[Brother Buzz]

8. Wouldn't it be a Bitch if they were able to order batteries for the old stingers from Radio Shack?

[undeterred]

2. Civilian helicopter crash in Afghanistan kills 16

Source: Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - A civilian helicopter crash that killed 16 people at a NATO base in southern Afghanistan pushed up the death toll on Sunday in the U.S. and allied effort to break the Taliban, adding to pressure on Washington and London.

<snip>

In Kandahar, the Taliban's birthplace adjacent to Helmand, Captain Ruben Hoornveld, a Dutch NATO spokesman, said there was no enemy involvement in the crash which occurred as the helicopter was taking off at the sprawling Kandahar Air Field.

Russia's Interfax news agency described the helicopter as an Mi-8 transporter, operated by a Russian firm, and said it had 17 passengers and three crew on board. It put the death toll at 15.

The nationalities of those killed were not immediately known. It was the second crash involving a Soviet-era helicopter in a week. Six Ukrainian crew members died when an Mi-26 transport helicopter crashed in Helmand on Tuesday.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSLJ59795120090719

[Duckhunter935]

3. Also in these prior threads

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3975698

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6100725

[ohio2007]

4. Mi-8 transporter

Chavez also had a few of them go south on him lately

[Hulk]

5. No enemy fire?? Hmmmm......this dude ain't buying it!

Interesting coincidence, no? Choppers are crash landing, but it's just a normal thing for these boys. I don't believe that for a minute. The Taliban were shooting down Soviet choppers and jets for years not long ago. You honestly think they have NOTHING to do with these going down?

I've got a couple bridges for sale. Just send me an email.

[bluedigger]

6. Helicopters fail all the time.

Especially in conditions as difficult as Afghanistan. Civilian Russian helicopters? No thanks, I'll pass on that ride! It happened on take-off right at our largest NATO base, in front of numerous witnesses, no doubt. Not everything is a multi-national conspiracy of misinformation and subterfuge.

[ohio2007]

7. Now (British) are borrowing Russian helicopters to fight the Taliban

long article on bad management decisions being made on both sides of the pond not Chinese made "stealth missile" launchers wrapped in tin foil

:tinfoilhat:

British frontline troops in Afghanistan are so short of helicopters and transport planes that they are being bailed out by the Russians.
The Mail on Sunday has established that the Ministry of Defence is using civilian Russian-built Mi-8 and Mi-26 transport helicopters to ferry supplies and soldiers in Afghanistan. The pilots are freelance Russians and Ukrainians.
Britain is also hiring massive commercial Russian Antonov aircraft to fly vehicles and heavy equipment from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Afghanistan.

snip

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200620/Now-borrowing-Russian-helicopters-fight-Taliban.html