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Afghanistan helicopter crash 'a tragic accident' | Afghanistan helicopter crash 'a tragic accident' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A fatal helicopter crash in southern 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 Kandahar province on Saturday morning. | |
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 servicemen, from the Army Air Corps, and an airman, from the Royal Air Force, were stationed at RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, the Ministry of Defence said. | |
The fifth serviceman, an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, was based in London. Their names have not been released. | |
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families at this difficult time," Maj Gen Felton said outside RAF Odiham. | |
"The investigation into this accident is ongoing but this is not the time now for speculation or comment." | "The investigation into this accident is ongoing but this is not the time now for speculation or comment." |
'Technical problem' | |
The MoD has said the accident happened during "a routine flight" and that the crash site, close to Kandahar airfield, has 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". | 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". |
The Taliban says its fighters shot the aircraft down but BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says her sources suggest the cause of the crash could have been "technical problems". | |
A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col Richard Kemp, added: "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." | |
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live 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". | |
"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," he said. | |
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". |
'Exceptional record' | 'Exceptional record' |
It is 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. | |
Defence analyst Paul Beaver said the Westland Lynx Mk 9, which is used for reconnaissance, evacuating casualties and moving UK troops, had an "exceptional record". | |
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. |
The deaths bring the number of British forces killed in the conflict in Afghanistan to 453. | |
Nato forces, including UK troops, are preparing to withdraw combat troops by the end of this year, handing responsibility for fighting the Taliban uprising to Afghanistan's army and police. | |
The crash came after the preliminary results of elections held in Afghanistan on 5 April were released on Saturday, showing that no candidate had reached the 50% needed for an outright win. | |
The vote is now expected to be decided in a run-off poll on 28 May. |