Helicopter Incidents Claim Lives in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 26, 2009 - Separate helicopter incidents today have claimed the lives of servicemembers in Afghanistan, military officials reported. ISAF officials said four U.S. servicemembers died when two International Security Assistance Force helicopters apparently collided over southern Afghanistan, and a recovery operation is under way for another helicopter that went down in western Afghanistan.

In addition to the four servicemembers killed, two more were injured in the collision, officials said, adding that they've confirmed hostile fire was not involved.

In an unrelated incident, a helicopter went down "due to unconfirmed reasons" as a combined force in western Afghanistan was departing after a firefight that left more than a dozen enemy fighters dead, officials said.

Military casualties are reported, officials added, and a recovery operation is under way.

(From a NATO International Security Assistance Force news release.)