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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK Chinook 'did come under fire' | UK Chinook 'did come under fire' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A British military helicopter was shot at before it caught fire and made an emergency landing, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | A British military helicopter was shot at before it caught fire and made an emergency landing, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. |
| The four men on board escaped injury and were rescued by another helicopter crew in southern Afghanistan. | The four men on board escaped injury and were rescued by another helicopter crew in southern Afghanistan. |
| The MoD said it had not ruled out the possibility that the Chinook was brought down by Wednesday's attack. | The MoD said it had not ruled out the possibility that the Chinook was brought down by Wednesday's attack. |
| The ministry said the incident, which took place north of Sangin, was still under investigation. | |
| It said the crew, from RAF Odiham in Hampshire, were forced to make a "heavy landing" because the helicopter's engine caught fire. | It said the crew, from RAF Odiham in Hampshire, were forced to make a "heavy landing" because the helicopter's engine caught fire. |
| The crew are believed to have been on a general security flight that was unrelated to yesterday's election. | The crew are believed to have been on a general security flight that was unrelated to yesterday's election. |
| There was enemy fire at the time of the landing MoD spokesman | There was enemy fire at the time of the landing MoD spokesman |
| The aircraft was deliberately destroyed by a coalition airstrike to keep it out of enemy hands. | The aircraft was deliberately destroyed by a coalition airstrike to keep it out of enemy hands. |
| "The incident is under investigation. There was enemy fire at the time of the landing," a spokesman from the MoD said. | "The incident is under investigation. There was enemy fire at the time of the landing," a spokesman from the MoD said. |
| The Ministry said that in the short term other UK aircraft in the region, and those operated by Nato partners, would be able to cover the "helicopter lift requirement". | The Ministry said that in the short term other UK aircraft in the region, and those operated by Nato partners, would be able to cover the "helicopter lift requirement". |
| "In the medium term, the UK's joint helicopter command is already planning the replacement of this airframe," it said. | "In the medium term, the UK's joint helicopter command is already planning the replacement of this airframe," it said. |
| CHINOOK FACTS Aircrew: 4Max speed: 185mph [298 km/h]Length: 51ft [15.5m]Rotor span: 60ft [18.3m]Weight: 50,000lbs [22,680kg] max.Range: About 300 miles Sources: Boeing, RAF, GlobalSecurity.org More details | CHINOOK FACTS Aircrew: 4Max speed: 185mph [298 km/h]Length: 51ft [15.5m]Rotor span: 60ft [18.3m]Weight: 50,000lbs [22,680kg] max.Range: About 300 miles Sources: Boeing, RAF, GlobalSecurity.org More details |
| Presidential elections | Presidential elections |
| An MoD spokesman said British troops were not involved in any major incidents during elections held on Thursday. | An MoD spokesman said British troops were not involved in any major incidents during elections held on Thursday. |
| The MoD said British forces kept a low profile but were on standby close to polling stations in case they were needed to support Afghan security forces. | The MoD said British forces kept a low profile but were on standby close to polling stations in case they were needed to support Afghan security forces. |
| Offensive operations against the Taliban were halted the night before voting. They are expected to resume soon. | Offensive operations against the Taliban were halted the night before voting. They are expected to resume soon. |
| Bodies returning home | Bodies returning home |
| The bodies of four British servicemen killed in the Sangin area will be flown back to Britain today. | The bodies of four British servicemen killed in the Sangin area will be flown back to Britain today. |
| All the men, who served in the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, were killed last weekend. | All the men, who served in the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, were killed last weekend. |
| Fusilier Simon Annis and Fusilier Louis Carter were killed by an explosion trying to save Lance Corporal James Fullarton, who also died. | Fusilier Simon Annis and Fusilier Louis Carter were killed by an explosion trying to save Lance Corporal James Fullarton, who also died. |
| Sergeant Simon Valentine was killed in a separate explosion. | Sergeant Simon Valentine was killed in a separate explosion. |
| They will be flown to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire before their coffins are driven through nearby Wootton Bassett, where hundreds are expected to line the streets. | They will be flown to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire before their coffins are driven through nearby Wootton Bassett, where hundreds are expected to line the streets. |