Asia-Pacific

4 Americans killed in aircrash in Afghanistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-09 20:50

KABUL - A United States Air Force CV-22 Osprey aircraft crashed in southern Afghanistan late on Thursday, killing four US nationals including three servicemembers and one civilian employee, NATO said Friday.

A press release issued Friday by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said numerous other servicemembers were injured during the incident.

The cause of the crash is unknown at the moment, said the press release.

The CV-22 was carrying US forces when it crashed approximately 11 km west of Qalat city, capital of Zabul province, according to the NATO press release.

The injured were transported to a nearby base for medical treatment, it said.

The CV-22 conducts long range infiltration and resupply for US forces. It employs tilt-rotor technology that allows it to take off and land as a helicopter.

While in the air the engines can roll forward, allowing the aircraft to fly faster than a standard helicopter.

Afghan local officials earlier told media that the crashed the aircraft was a helicopter.