US blames insurgents for deadly Chinook crash
Source: Agencies |
October 14, 2011, Friday
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US military investigators have concluded that the Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed 30 US troops in August was caused by an insurgent who fired a rocket--propelled grenade that struck the rear rotor of the aircraft.
It was deadliest single incident for US forces in the decade-long war.
The crash came amid rising fears that the country was far from stable even though US and NATO forces had begun to leave. US military officials have tried to counter those fears, saying while the downing of the Chinook was a setback, one crash will not determine the course of the war.
An official investigation report, issued this week by the US Central Command, said after the grenade hit the rotor, the helicopter spun violently and dropped into a dry creek bed where it was engulfed in flames.
The fire triggered several explosions of fuel and munitions.
No one survived the crash in Tangi Valley of Wardak province, about 97 kilometers southwest of Kabul.
Among those killed were 17 members of the elite Navy Seals, five Naval Special Warfare personnel who support the Seals, three Air Force Special Operations personnel, an army helicopter crew of five, seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter.
Investigators found no wrong-doing by personnel involved in the mission. The decision to transport the entire immediate reaction force in one helicopter was "tactically sound" to mitigate aircraft exposure to ground fire, the report said.
However, it said the special operations task force commander did not reallocate the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to ensure continuous surveillance. While this was not the cause of the crash, the report said the issue should be addressed in similar missions in the future.
It was deadliest single incident for US forces in the decade-long war.
The crash came amid rising fears that the country was far from stable even though US and NATO forces had begun to leave. US military officials have tried to counter those fears, saying while the downing of the Chinook was a setback, one crash will not determine the course of the war.
An official investigation report, issued this week by the US Central Command, said after the grenade hit the rotor, the helicopter spun violently and dropped into a dry creek bed where it was engulfed in flames.
The fire triggered several explosions of fuel and munitions.
No one survived the crash in Tangi Valley of Wardak province, about 97 kilometers southwest of Kabul.
Among those killed were 17 members of the elite Navy Seals, five Naval Special Warfare personnel who support the Seals, three Air Force Special Operations personnel, an army helicopter crew of five, seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter.
Investigators found no wrong-doing by personnel involved in the mission. The decision to transport the entire immediate reaction force in one helicopter was "tactically sound" to mitigate aircraft exposure to ground fire, the report said.
However, it said the special operations task force commander did not reallocate the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to ensure continuous surveillance. While this was not the cause of the crash, the report said the issue should be addressed in similar missions in the future.
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