Afghanistan Blackhawk Crash: Helicopter Believed To Be Carrying Crew Of 4 Goes Down

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Army helicopter crashed on a nighttime mission in southwestern Afghanistan on Thursday, and initial reports from the scene indicated that as many as four soldiers may have been killed, a U.S. defense official said.

In a brief official announcement, the American military command in Kabul said there were "no confirmed reports" of casualties "at this time." The announcement did not specify the nationality of the helicopter crew and said the cause of the crash was unknown.

Two U.S. defense officials said four U.S. troops were aboard the helicopter, identified as an Army Black Hawk, and one official said initial word from the scene was that officials "don't expect" that any of the four survived. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details were still being collected and the families of the helicopter crew had not yet been notified.

Unspecified weather difficulties may have played a role in the crash, the two officials said, but it also was possible that enemy action was factor.

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Comments

[MickeyCruser]

12:03 PM on 04/20/2012

Be respectfull with your comments and do not forget that the families of the soldiers lost yesterday can see this. My Brother-in-Law lost his son to this... a bright, beautiful and dedicated soldier. So be mindfull that it's not all just politics,policy, and personal opinion. And Abdul, I hope you sorry rump is next on the line to get a call from our guys.

[Timothy Unrine]

10:40 AM on 04/20/2012

Sure, lead poisoning never has anything to do with all of these helicopters that just drop from the sky.

Funny that the percentage of accidental helicopter malfunctions resulting in crashes is higher than in a peace time training exercise, but in peace time, no lead bullet to poison the fuselage.

[viciousvirago]

10:15 AM on 04/20/2012

it's hard as hell to maintain equipment in Afghanistan because of the dust that is everywhere. You think the dust storms in Iraq were bad? Afghanistan is lacking in everything and our troops do not get the equipment they need, plus it's very easy for a Blackhawk to go down in a dust storm. Any helicopter is.

To be in combat is tough enough, but to not be able to rely on your equipment is even worse.

[Blackhawk6]

08:59 AM on 04/20/2012

I'm a lucky man. My heart goes out every time I read one of these. Drive on brothers and sisters in uniform. Drive On!

[demsxobama]

08:58 AM on 04/20/2012

How many lives have to be lost before they investigate the safety of helicopters? Many of the lives being lost have nothing to do with military combat, but faulty unsafe design of helicopters. Many, many lives have been lost with both military and civilian helicopters. They are very dangerous, unsafe, and poorly designed for safety.

[Timothy Unrine]

10:42 AM on 04/20/2012

These same helicopters have operated safe for years, it was only with lead bullets being shot at them do they have mechanical problems.

Sounds better than admitting to having another helicopter shot down.

[Daniel Braught]

09:35 PM on 04/20/2012

Its fun when someone like yourself (presumably a civilian) comments on the safety features of a helicopter. You obviously have no clue on the incredible amount of time that is dedicated to safety, training and the thousands upon thousands of hours flown successfully without incident. Try some research. Just because you can talk does not mean you should. Blue Stars!!!!

[demsxobama]

11:09 AM on 04/21/2012

The results speak for themselves, downed helicopters constantly in the news, lost lives. Many have nothing to do with military combat. This tells me that they are unsafe by design. You know.....facts....and results. There are about 10 times the number of helicopter crashes vs. regular aircraft.

[kennyfloyd]

08:52 AM on 04/20/2012

Funny how these choppers never get shot down in a war zone, always bad weather.

[NoHopeForChangeToday]

08:18 AM on 04/20/2012

Pack them up and move them out today!. Time for a change, whoops did not intend to steal the thunder of the present people in charge in DC, but this was their battle cry 3 years ago. Wonder why he did not say change for the "BAD". We need out of Afghan today, without delay. BO must be getting something out of this we do not know about. Maybe the Russians will tell us, they seem to talk off the record to each other.(leave the mike on dummy)

[Justthom]

08:10 AM on 04/20/2012

Quick. Somebody apologize for allowing our helicopter to crash on Afghanistan, We didn't mean for our troops to die in front of all those innocent women and children.

[kennyfloyd]

08:56 AM on 04/20/2012

What an idiotic statement. What did the President apologize for and to whom? You are stretching this a little far. Remember who started this war, who diverted troops to another war and left a steaming pile for the current President to clean up. The only critique I have is that he should show more backbone and say we're leaving and to have said that about 2 yrs ago.

[Tuula Westra]

07:42 AM on 04/20/2012

The USA does not ever get out of any country because it does not know how to live without war/invading.

[rust28]

07:12 AM on 04/20/2012

Hey, did anyone hear that Whitney Houston died? So young and so tragic. I wonder what was the cause of her death?

[ncueb8]

07:11 AM on 04/20/2012

How long have helicopters been around ? The Korean war or earlier and they are still unreliable as hell ! Stop playing war over there and come home ! Enough is enough ! I want to vote for Mitt but I don't agree with the Republicans on this so called war !

[Timothy Unrine]

10:44 AM on 04/20/2012

Mitt wants a war with IRAN, if you think the Afghan are kicking our butts, imaging a real standing army with a religious zeal about protecting their country from infidels.

We don't have enough space in National Cemetary, but then, Dover would just throw the bodies in the dump, or the cemetary would bury the dead in the wrong graves.

[me109glen]

06:25 AM on 04/20/2012

END THAT WAR NOW!

[yoyodyne666]

06:24 AM on 04/20/2012

Gee, maybe god does not think of them as heros.

[Norge]

06:04 AM on 04/20/2012

Probably sabatage, payback for photo disgrace of body parts. All must be paid for in one way or another.

[wombatrich44]

07:16 AM on 04/20/2012

comments like that make you no better than the Westboro Baptist Church nuts.

[Norge]

07:48 AM on 04/20/2012

wombatrich44,
You just added yourself to that baptist group did'nt you. In my comment there is no reference to any religious organisation. If you find a religious connection there it is strictly within your own mind.

Norge

[jws2346]

08:43 AM on 04/20/2012

Err..., I'm still trying to figure out why there's all this animosity directed at some young combat troops. Depending on how you look at it, they probably made an error in judgement (I don't think the troops acted in a favorable way)? Crimany, have animosity toward the peeps that convinced these SUICIDE bombers to off themselves (you know, the Al Queerda's) , not the poor peeps that get to look at the blood and guts results of the SUICIDE bomber's willingness to blow themselves up..It wasn't the 82nd that strapped bombs to their bods and went out and detonated them

[1differentdrummer]

05:38 AM on 04/20/2012

1. Leave there.

2. Bring the troops home.

3. Close most overseas bases.

[rust28]

06:55 AM on 04/20/2012

4. Change America to a Muslim nation.

[Zurichilux]

07:28 AM on 04/20/2012

you think america will become a muslim nation if you stop terrorising afghanistan? jesus christ no wonder america is in such a state with people like you there...