- (AP) - A helicopter carrying workers from the U.S. construction,
company, Louis Berger, crashed in southern Afghanistan on Sunday after
coming under small arms fire, killing at least one person and seriously
injuring another, a U.S. embassy official said.
-
- The Australian pilot of the helicopter was killed and
an American passenger who was working in setting up health clinics in the
region was seriously injured, the spokesman told The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity.
-
- "Apparently the helicopter was forced down by small
arms fire," the spokesman said, adding it was not clear who had opened
fire.
-
- It was not immediately clear how many people were on
board the helicopter.
-
- Afghan military officials said the crash occurred in
the Thaloqan area, about 40 miles southwest of the southern city of Kandahar.
They said four people were killed.
-
- The embassy spokesman said the crash occurred Sunday
morning and there were conflicting reports about casualties.
-
- "We have sent the investigation team to the area
to find out more," said Khan Mohammad, the corps commander in Kandahar.
-
- Louis Berger is involved in major road construction projects,
including in southern Afghanistan where rebels of the former ruling Taliban
regime are active.
-
- Mike Staples, public relations official for Louis Berger
in Kabul, declined to comment.
-
- No other details were immediately available.
-
- The U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, Lt. Col.
Bryan Hilferty, said he had heard reports of a helicopter crashing Sunday,
but could not give any details.
-
- "We have heard similar reports, but no United States
or coalition forces were involved," he said.
-
- Associated Press reporter Matthew Pennington contributed
to this story.
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