NATO Copter Makes Forced Landing In Afghanistan

Published December 24, 2011 3:00PM (EST)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO says one of its helicopters has made a forced landing in southern Afghanistan after taking ground fire.

A statement says crew members were unharmed in Saturday's incident in Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province. The chopper was later transported to a coalition base. It did not identify the exact type of aircraft or say to which country's military it belonged.

The coalition relies heavily on helicopters to avoid using roads that are frequently mined by the insurgents.

The Taliban have few dedicated anti-aircraft weapons, but they have destroyed or damaged dozens of planes using automatic rifles and other infantry weapons. In August, the guerrillas shot down a U.S. Chinook transport, killing 30 U.S. special operation troops, a translator and seven Afghan commandos.


By Salon Staff

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