US military helicopter crashed because of bad weather

A US military helicopter crashed in the south-eastern Afghan desert yesterday, killing at least 16 people: the worst accident of its kind suffered by the Americans since the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2000/11/06/728.html ' target=_blank>Afghan war began in 2001. The White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said the crash "was a result of bad weather". President George Bush had been briefed on the accident by his national security adviser, Stephen Hadley. A military statement confirmed that 16 people had been killed when the Chinook troop-carrying helicopter went down near Ghazni, 77 miles south-west of Kabul, as it was returning from a "routine mission" in southern Afghanistan. The statement said two more people listed on the manifest were still unaccounted for when the search was called off at nightfall. US officials confirmed that the helicopter's four crew were Americans, but said nothing about the identity of the other 12 confirmed casualties, publishes the Guardian Unlimited. According to ABC News, the U.S. military suggested that severe weather brought down the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2003/03/12/44261_.html ' target=_blank>CH-47 Chinook near Ghazni city, 80 miles southwest of the capital, Kabul, as it returned from a mission in the militant-plagued south. "Sixteen people have now been confirmed dead in the crash," a military statement said. Two others listed on the flight manifest, "remain unaccounted for," it said. It said the names were being withheld until their next of kin were informed. Military spokeswoman Lt. Cindy Moore told The Associated Press earlier that the helicopter was one of two Chinooks flying to the main American base at Bagram, north of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2001/09/12/14954.html ' target=_blank>Kabul, when controllers lost radio contact. Abdul Rahman Sarjang, the chief of police in Ghazni, said the helicopter came down at about 2:30 p.m. near a brick factory three miles outside the city and burst into flames. U.S. troops rushed to cordon the area to look for any survivors. he said. NR

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