In Afghanistan helicopter crash 18 American soldiers died

At least 18 American soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan yesterday, the biggest single loss of US life since Operation Enduring Freedom began in autumn 2001.

Afghan officials said the bodies were all in US military uniform. The army said that, last night 18 people, including crew members and passengers, were listed on the flight manifest and that two remained unaccounted for.

America’s previous highest single loss of life was when eight soldiers died in an arms dump explosion in January last year.

A coalition A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Ghazni, about 100 miles southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The crash occurred in the desert near a brick factory about three miles outside the Ghazni city and the chopper caught fire.

The U.S. military earlier said nine people were dead in the crash.

The helicopter was one of two returning to Bagram Airfield after a routine mission in the southern part of the country. The second helicopter arrived safely at Bagram Airfield.

“Indications are it was bad weather and that there were no survivors,� said Moore, who gave the initial toll of five dead.