NEWS: 16 Killed in U.S. Afghan Helicopter Crash, page 1

Sixteen people died today in a helicopter accident 120 km (80 miles) southwest of the Afghanistan capital, Kabul. The helicopter was brought down by a dust storm in the region. This is the worst military air accident since troops were deployed in the area as of 2001. Some of the bodies were in uniform and some were burned to beyond recognition. The recovery proccess has been postponed until day break due to darkness and bad weather.

www.reuters.com
A U.S. military helicopter crashed during a dust storm in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people aboard -- the deadliest military air accident since Washington first deployed troops to the country in 2001.

"Eighteen people, including crew members and passengers, were listed on the flight manifest; two remain unaccounted for," the U.S. military said in a statement.

The helicopter was one of two Chinooks returning to Bagram Air Field north of Kabul, the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan, from a mission in the south, Moore said. The other arrived safely.

The governor of Ghazni province, Assadullah Khalid, said the helicopter crashed during a heavy dust storm.

The United States has lost more than 100 military personnel since deploying troops to Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, but most of the deaths have been in accidents.

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It seems that most of the deaths in Afghanistan have been attributed to accidents. There have been several helicopter crashes inthe last year, but non as deadly as this one.

I can't help but feel bad for these people and their families as they put their lives on the line and then die in a freak accident.