A NATO military helicopter has crashed in Afghanistan, killing five military personnel, including two British Air Force members, Resolute Support mission said. The incident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. local time on Sunday when a British military helicopter crashed at Camp Resolute Support near Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul.
"The helicopter crashed due to a non-hostile incident Oct. 11 at approximately 4:15 p.m. at Camp Resolute Support, Kabul," the mission said in a statement on Sunday, according to Khama Press. "The incident resulted in the death of five Resolute Support personnel and the injury of five others,."
Eyewitnesses said the helicopter had struck a cable of an observation balloon before crashing down.
"The helicopter hit the cable of the security balloon over the base before crashing and sending up a plume of black smoke. It seemed like the cable was turned around the helicopter rotor," a witness said, according to Daily Mail.
U.K.'s Ministry of Defense said the crash was an accident and that the matter is under investigation.
"The incident is currently under investigation but we can confirm that it was an accident and not the result of insurgent activity," ministry's spokesperson said, according to Express and Star. "The family of the two personnel who were killed have been informed and requested a period of grace before their names are released."
It is with regret that the MoD must announce the death of two personnel from 230 and 33 Squadrons, Royal Air Force: https://t.co/rAxVrIhiqH
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) October 11, 2015
The coalition helicopter crash comes as six U.S. military troopers and five civilians killed in a crash of a U.S. military transport aircraft at Jalalabad, East Afghanistan on Oct.1.
