This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7484673.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US chopper shot down near Kabul US helicopter downed near Kabul
(about 5 hours later)
An American Blackhawk helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan in a province bordering the capital, Kabul.An American Blackhawk helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan in a province bordering the capital, Kabul.
The aircraft was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, a military spokesman said.The aircraft was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, a military spokesman said.
The pilot managed to land the craft and get the crew and passengers to safety before it caught fire, he said.The pilot managed to land the craft and get the crew and passengers to safety before it caught fire, he said.
A number of helicopters have been shot down in Afghanistan. Seven troops died last summer when an American Chinook was shot down in Helmand province.A number of helicopters have been shot down in Afghanistan. Seven troops died last summer when an American Chinook was shot down in Helmand province.
The Blackhawk military helicopter, operating under the US-led coalition, was on a routine flight when it was hit in Logar province which borders Kabul. 'Burned out'
The helicopter was flying close to the ground when it was hit. The Blackhawk was taking part in operations under the US-led coalition when it was hit by what a spokesman called "small arms fire".
There were no serious injuries to the crew and the passengers, the spokesman said. He described how the pilot was able to crash-land the helicopter and to get all the passengers and crew off the aircraft before it caught fire.
There were no reports of any serious injuries.
The Blackhawk was flying quite close to the ground when it was hit in Logar province which borders Kabul - just a short distance from the Afghan capital in an area described by a local MP as a Taleban stronghold.
The Blackhawk was burned out in the crash and the coalition said the remains were completely destroyed by a precision strike.
There have been a number of problems with coalition and Nato helicopters over the last month.
A few days ago another Blackhawk crash-landed and rolled over in a dust cloud, a Chinook crashed in Kunar province after suffering engine failure and a small scout helicopter crashed in Kandahar a few weeks ago.
A Nato spokesman said it had been a particularly busy month and there are now more troops and aircraft in the country.
June was the bloodiest month for international forces since the campaign here against the Taleban began at the end of 2001.