Helicopter down in Afghanistan
 

BBC reporting that 2 RAF pers killed in helicopter crash.

RIP

Duncs:ok:

Reporting Puma Mk2 - not thought to be as result of 'enemy action'.

Thoughts go out to all the family and friends involved ... Sad day.

As an ex member of 230 and Flt Cdr of 33, thoughts go to all concerned.

RIP Guys

Lets hope that there is no over-reaction to this from their command and the investigation is truely impartial. Having worked with a number of them over the years, the Puma force is very different beast to 8-10 years ago when they had a poor safety record - the last thing they need is a witch hunt!

Stay Strong SHF!!

A dark day for all. RIP guys.

Not again, :-(

Loyalty.
I had two tours on 33 in the best of days on the HC1. So sad.

BBC News:

Five people, including two RAF personnel, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

The Puma Mk2 helicopter crashed as it was landing at Nato's Resolute Support mission headquarters, Kabul. NATO has not released the nationalities of the other victims or the five left injured.

RIP

Five people, including two RAF personnel, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

The Puma Mk2 helicopter crashed as it was landing at Nato's Resolute Support mission headquarters, Kabul. Nato has not released the nationalities of the other victims or the five left injured. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the crash was "an accident and not the result of insurgent activity".

The families of the British victims have been informed, the MoD said. They have asked for a period of grace before their names are released.......

The two RAF personnel were from 230 and 33 squadrons, both of which are based at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, the MoD spokesman said. He added: "The helicopter crashed while landing at the headquarters of Resolute Support: the Nato train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan. The incident is currently under investigation but we can confirm that it was an accident and not the result of insurgent activity."

BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said: "The BBC understands the RAF Puma that crashed in Kabul had been transferring Nato military personnel..... The cause of the crash is still being investigated but an observation balloon became untethered and landed in the Resolute Support base in Kabul."

BBC reporting an observation balloon became detached during the incident, is that a thinly veiled hint?

RIP to all, and thoughts and prayers for surviving family members.

I always feel there is something especially harsh and unfair about fatalities that occur after the cessation of official hostilities. Perhaps they seem even more of a waste and senseless.

RIP guys. I would agree with Barnstormer's comments.

Another sad day. RIP guys and thoughts to the families :(

230 was my old squadron, too, albeit over thirty years since. A tragically sad day, my condolences to those directly affected.

Why do Sky News persist in showing a Merlin landing when covering this report?

Loyalty. RIP.

British press now increasingly reporting on the balloon as being part of the incident. Guardian quotes ' a severed balloon..'

A sad day indeed, condolences to all those affected.

BBC now reporting the names of the front end that sadly lost their lives, RIP Fellas

Per Ardua Ad Astra