An American Blackhawk helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan in a province bordering the capital, Kabul.

The aircraft was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, a military spokesman said.

The pilot managed to land the craft and get the crew and passengers to safety before it caught fire, he said.

A number of helicopters have been shot down in Afghanistan. Seven troops died last summer when an American Chinook was shot down in Helmand province.

The Blackhawk military helicopter, operating under the US-led coalition, was on a routine flight when it was hit in Logar province which borders Kabul.

The helicopter was flying close to the ground when it was hit.

There were no serious injuries to the crew and the passengers, the spokesman said.

(BBC)

<< Back