Breaking news from Sky: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...222691,00.html

Probably a Herc, any other news?

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - An aircraft was on fire at an airstrip in the southern Afghan province of Helmand on Wednesday, where British and other foreign troops operate, but the cause of the blaze was not known, a witness said.......

"I can see heavy smoke and fire rising from the plane and there were some explosions," said a Reuters reporter near the air strip in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. The reporter said he thought it was a foreign military aircraft. There was no word on casualties.

U.S. forces also operate in Helmand but a U.S. military spokesman said he had no information about any aircraft on fire in the province...

It is an RAF Hercules. No UK Casualties

BBC R4 report Ambassador to Afghanistan on board.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A British military C-130 cargo aircraft caught fire while landing at an airstrip in southern Afghanistan, but all aboard escaped unhurt, officials said.

One of the plane's tires burst when it hit the ground, sending debris into an engine, which then caught fire, said Sgt. Chris Miller, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition. He said the incident was not the result of militant fire.

Reports saying ac had an incident on landing.

Glad everyone is OK. I saw the smoke on TV, I guess the plane is a gonner.

Loadmaster and crew must have done a good job to get everyone off safely.

Everyone is safe, so I would like to point out that today Chappie has launched a petition for every Herc to get foam protection. Please sign it. I pleaded with the authorities not to send Hercs to Afg without foam. This is the front page of a manufacturer of foam. We do not know why this Hercules is burning but the media are reporting a tyre burst causing FOD damage leading to fire. Please read below.

Safety Foam is a fully reticulated, flexible polyurethane foam composed of a skeletal matrix of tiny lightweight interconnecting strands. These act as a three dimensional fire screen. The material is a passive, self healing, explosion suppression system capable of withstanding multiple hits. Safety Foam Functions:
1 Fuel Tank Inerting
2 Slosh Attenuation (Baffling)
3 Dry Bay Explosion Suppression
4 Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Barrier
5 Electrostatic Suppression in Fuel Tanks

Oh, from the title I thought it was about woodworkers acting as missionaries abroad. What is a 'plane' anyway?

Seriously though, 'big up' to the crew!

Prob will not count as an Evacuation Drill for BTR's tho!!!!!

BBC News 24 now reporting that the Taliban have made a claim for the incident.

I hope they keep their reciepts. Wouldnt want them to get charged with financial irregularities when JPA decides to audit their 'claim'.

Oops, wrong thread!

Hat, coat, door, etc.

-GW-

At least the long suffering taxpayers will know where to send the bill to.

To misquote Admiral Beatty, There seems to be something wrong with our bloody AT aircraft these days.

The MOD News caught up surprisingly quickly!
MOD News

So has the Peoples Popular Front For The Liberation Of Judea

Telegraph now saying ac destroyed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...ritsafghan.xml

Splitters! I heard it was the Popular Peoples Front!

Seriously though, thank goodness no casualties. I suspect that is why Mod web was so quick: to prevent family of any Herc crews from too much undue worry.