Contradictory reports emerge over Black Hawk ‘crash’

Conflicting reports have emerged around the apparent Afghan National Army Black Hawk helicopter crash in Helmand province on Wednesday night.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the helicopter made an emergency landing in Nahr-e-Saraj district in the province after experiencing technical problems.

The MoD said in a statement no casualties had been reported but an investigation will be carried out.

However, Attullah Afghan, the head of the Helmand provincial council, said on Wednesday night that the ANA helicopter had crashed.

He said three people on board had died and four were injured.

The Taliban meanwhile claimed that it shot down an ANA Black Hawk over Helmand province – leaving four dead.

According to the Taliban, the helicopter had been preparing to carry out an airstrike when it was targeted.

This comes after an incident last month when the forces of a local militia commander, Alipour, shot down an Afghan Air Force helicopter in Maidan Wardak province.

Nine security personnel, including two pilots and four special forces members, were killed in the incident, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Fawad Aman, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said that based on their investigation and evidence, the Afghan Air Force helicopter “was attacked by Alipour’s militia in Behsud district.”