Helicopter Crash Over Afghanistan!?

Its been in the media recently that an RAF helicopter has crashed whilst flying in Afghanistan killing both pilots. I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on this whether this was an actual crash or whether it was shot down and if so who by

a reply to: ConF7

It was in Kandahar when it crashed. It's been awhile since there's been anything shot down in that area. Accidents tend to happen a lot more with helicopters than fixed wing aircraft.

As far as I'm aware it was an accident during landing supposedly. Caused by pilot error.

www.theguardian.com...
Earlier, US military spokesman Brian Tribus said an incident involving a Nato aircraft and an observation balloon had taken place “in the vicinity of the Resolute Support base”.

The balloon was severed from its mooring in the incident, he said, without providing further details.

An Afghan security guard who witnessed the incident told Associated Press that the helicopter appeared to strike the balloon as it landed at the Nato base.

Najibullah, the Afghan security guard who witnessed the incident, said the helicopter “hit the cable of the security balloon over the base. It seemed like the cable was turned around the helicopter rotor,” he said.

Another report: www.dailymail.co.uk... e-gun-without-formal-permission.html

A pilot may have descended suddenly to allow servicemen to experience near weightlessness before his helicopter crashed into the Afghan desert killing all five on board, it was revealed today.

The decision to allow two servicemen to fire the Lynx Mk9A's machinegun during the flight over Kandahar may also have contributed to the tragedy, investigators have found.

At the time of the crash officials blamed a 'catastrophic mechanical failure' but now it is believed it was down to 'human' factors.

a reply to: ConF7

I work at the US Embassy in Kabul...The crash happened next door at the Resolute Support (NATO) HQ LZ...By all accounts, it struck the tether line for the surveillance balloon that operates there. 5 killed (2 UK, 2 US and 1 French) 5 injured. The balloon crashed close by and was recovered quickly.