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| Afghanistan helicopter crash 'a tragic accident' | Afghanistan helicopter crash 'a tragic accident' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fatal helicopter crash in Afghanistan which killed all five UK personnel on board appears to have been a "tragic accident", the MoD has said. | A fatal helicopter crash in Afghanistan which killed all five UK personnel on board appears to have been a "tragic accident", the MoD has said. |
| An investigation has begun into how the Lynx helicopter came down in the south of the country on Saturday. | An investigation has begun into how the Lynx helicopter came down in the south of the country on Saturday. |
| Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Maj Gen Richard Felton, said it was a reminder of the risks UK troops still face as they withdraw from Afghanistan. | Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Maj Gen Richard Felton, said it was a reminder of the risks UK troops still face as they withdraw from Afghanistan. |
| The prime minister paid tribute to the men, whose families have been told. | The prime minister paid tribute to the men, whose families have been told. |
| Three of the soldiers and an airman were stationed in Hampshire. The fifth, an Army reservist, was based in London. | Three of the soldiers and an airman were stationed in Hampshire. The fifth, an Army reservist, was based in London. |
| It was the first fatal accident of the Afghan conflict involving a UK military helicopter and the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the invasion in 2001. | It was the first fatal accident of the Afghan conflict involving a UK military helicopter and the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the invasion in 2001. |
| "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families at this difficult time," Maj Gen Felton said outside RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, where some of the men were based. | |
| "The investigation into this accident is ongoing but this is not the time now for speculation or comment." | |
| An MoD spokeswoman said that the crash site had been cordoned off. | |
| Speaking on Sky News, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "This appears to have been a tragic accident," adding it was "a reminder of the work that our troops still do in Afghanistan". | |
| Despite Taliban claims its fighters had shot the aircraft down, BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said sources had suggested the cause of the crash may have been "technical problems". | Despite Taliban claims its fighters had shot the aircraft down, BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said sources had suggested the cause of the crash may have been "technical problems". |
| She said the crash site - close to the border with Pakistan - had also led to speculation that the helicopter could have been taking part in a special forces mission. | She said the crash site - close to the border with Pakistan - had also led to speculation that the helicopter could have been taking part in a special forces mission. |
| A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col Richard Kemp, said: "The Taliban are masters of propaganda - they claim huge numbers of things that haven't actually happened. | A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col Richard Kemp, said: "The Taliban are masters of propaganda - they claim huge numbers of things that haven't actually happened. |
| "Of course it's a feather in their hat if they've managed to shoot down a British helicopter but if the MoD is saying, 'it's not been shot down, it's a technical problem,' then I certainly believe that." | "Of course it's a feather in their hat if they've managed to shoot down a British helicopter but if the MoD is saying, 'it's not been shot down, it's a technical problem,' then I certainly believe that." |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live earlier he said retrieving the wreckage and ensuring the men's bodies could be repatriated would be a hazardous operation. | Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live earlier he said retrieving the wreckage and ensuring the men's bodies could be repatriated would be a hazardous operation. |
| "This is a territory the Taliban operate in fairly extensively so it will require a large number of troops and they themselves will be at considerable risk." | "This is a territory the Taliban operate in fairly extensively so it will require a large number of troops and they themselves will be at considerable risk." |
| David Cameron said the incident "brings home to us all once again how our armed forces continue to put their lives on the line to help the people of Afghanistan. | David Cameron said the incident "brings home to us all once again how our armed forces continue to put their lives on the line to help the people of Afghanistan. |
| "I cannot pay high enough tribute to each and every one of them for the job that they do and the sacrifices that they make." | "I cannot pay high enough tribute to each and every one of them for the job that they do and the sacrifices that they make." |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "tragic and poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces in serving our country with bravery and distinction". | Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "tragic and poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces in serving our country with bravery and distinction". |
| The deaths bring the number of British forces killed in the conflict in Afghanistan to 453. | The deaths bring the number of British forces killed in the conflict in Afghanistan to 453. |
| 'Exceptional record' | 'Exceptional record' |
| The Westland Lynx Mk 9 is used in Afghanistan for reconnaissance, evacuating casualties and moving UK troops. | The Westland Lynx Mk 9 is used in Afghanistan for reconnaissance, evacuating casualties and moving UK troops. |
| Defence analyst Paul Beaver said the aircraft had an "exceptional record". | Defence analyst Paul Beaver said the aircraft had an "exceptional record". |
| "If enemy action is not suspected, which is what the MoD is saying, then you have to look at whether this might well be weather-related," Mr Beaver told the BBC. | "If enemy action is not suspected, which is what the MoD is saying, then you have to look at whether this might well be weather-related," Mr Beaver told the BBC. |
| Earlier he told BBC Breakfast he did not envisage other Lynx helicopters being grounded "because that notice would have gone out already". | Earlier he told BBC Breakfast he did not envisage other Lynx helicopters being grounded "because that notice would have gone out already". |
| The MoD said it did not know how long it would take investigators to report back on what happened. | The MoD said it did not know how long it would take investigators to report back on what happened. |
| Three of the soldiers on board the helicopter were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham. | |
| A fourth member of the crew was serving with the Royal Air Force and was also based at Odiham, while the fifth man was an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, in London. | A fourth member of the crew was serving with the Royal Air Force and was also based at Odiham, while the fifth man was an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, in London. |
| Their names have not yet been released. | Their names have not yet been released. |