KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – An Afghan military helicopter crashed in a remote region of the southern Zabul province on Thursday, killing a total of 17 soldiers, including five crew members, officials said.
Provincial police chief Mirwais Noorzai said the cause of the crash was not yet known and was under investigation. The Defense Ministry said the crash was believed to be caused by a technical problem, but provided no further details.
Afzal Aman, the Defense Ministry’s chief of operations, described it as “the worst calamity to hit the air force.” He confirmed the casualty figure, and said the dead included a unit commander and 11 soldiers, as well as the crew.
The Afghan military has been fighting the Taliban-led insurgency alone since U.S. and NATO forces concluded their combat mission at the end of last year, shifting to a support and training role instead.
Aman said the helicopter was a Russian-made M-17, and was flying between Zabul’s capital Qalat and Shinkay, 20 kilometers (12 miles) away.