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| 14 Britons killed in Afghanistan | 14 Britons killed in Afghanistan |
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| Fourteen British service personnel have died after their aircraft crashed in Afghanistan, the MoD has said. | Fourteen British service personnel have died after their aircraft crashed in Afghanistan, the MoD has said. |
| Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were on board the RAF Nimrod MR2 which came down in the southern province of Kandahar. | Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were on board the RAF Nimrod MR2 which came down in the southern province of Kandahar. |
| The reconnaissance jet belonged to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban. | The reconnaissance jet belonged to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban. |
| Officials said the crash appeared an accident. Tony Blair said it would "distress the whole country" but the mission in Afghanistan was "vital". | Officials said the crash appeared an accident. Tony Blair said it would "distress the whole country" but the mission in Afghanistan was "vital". |
| The prime minister said: "Our thoughts go out immediately to the families of those who have died. | The prime minister said: "Our thoughts go out immediately to the families of those who have died. |
| "British forces are engaged in a vital mission in Afghanistan and this terrible event starkly reminds us of the risk that they face daily." | "British forces are engaged in a vital mission in Afghanistan and this terrible event starkly reminds us of the risk that they face daily." |
| It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan Major Charles Heyman Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 Send us your reaction | It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan Major Charles Heyman Quick guide: Afghanistan Factfile: Nimrod MR2 Send us your reaction |
| UK Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "This is dreadful and shocking news. I know that the people of Britain will join me in sending our deep condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives. | UK Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "This is dreadful and shocking news. I know that the people of Britain will join me in sending our deep condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives. |
| "At this stage all the indications are that this was a terrible accident and not the result of hostile action." | "At this stage all the indications are that this was a terrible accident and not the result of hostile action." |
| 'Technical fault' | 'Technical fault' |
| Nato forces say the plane was supporting the Nato mission in the area. | Nato forces say the plane was supporting the Nato mission in the area. |
| The pilot is believed to have radioed ground staff about a technical fault shortly before the aircraft came down. | The pilot is believed to have radioed ground staff about a technical fault shortly before the aircraft came down. |
| The MR2 crews are usually based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland but the MoD has not confirmed where the crashed aircraft was from. | The MR2 crews are usually based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland but the MoD has not confirmed where the crashed aircraft was from. |
| The last RAF Nimrod crash took place 11 years ago to the day when seven crew from Kinloss died at an air show near Toronto, Canada. | The last RAF Nimrod crash took place 11 years ago to the day when seven crew from Kinloss died at an air show near Toronto, Canada. |
| The incident was blamed on pilot error. | The incident was blamed on pilot error. |
| The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001. | The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001. |
| The defence analyst, Major Charles Heyman, told BBC News 24: "It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. | The defence analyst, Major Charles Heyman, told BBC News 24: "It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. |
| "No other words can describe it. It's a big hit to morale. Believe me it really does affect morale." | "No other words can describe it. It's a big hit to morale. Believe me it really does affect morale." |
| Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Ed Butler, said recent loss of life has caused "profound personal devastation for families, friends and colleagues". | Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Ed Butler, said recent loss of life has caused "profound personal devastation for families, friends and colleagues". |
| But he paid tribute to the "quite remarkable" resilience and morale of British our service personnel. | But he paid tribute to the "quite remarkable" resilience and morale of British our service personnel. |
| "I am personally humbled by their courage and commitment in getting on with the tough job in hand; delivering over and above, and making a difference to the ordinary people of Afghanistan," he said. | "I am personally humbled by their courage and commitment in getting on with the tough job in hand; delivering over and above, and making a difference to the ordinary people of Afghanistan," he said. |
| BBC defence correspondent, Paul Wood, told BBC News 24, said the plane could have been supporting an operation in a place called Panjwayi - west of Kandahar. | BBC defence correspondent, Paul Wood, told BBC News 24, said the plane could have been supporting an operation in a place called Panjwayi - west of Kandahar. |
| "It's a town - which has been in Taleban hands - which has been forced back into coalition hands by a big push, still continuing today." | "It's a town - which has been in Taleban hands - which has been forced back into coalition hands by a big push, still continuing today." |
| Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the accident, has sent his condolences to the friends and families of those killed. | Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the accident, has sent his condolences to the friends and families of those killed. |
| "Today's tragic loss is a reminder of the extraordinarily difficult conditions in which our armed forces are operating in Afghanistan," he said. | "Today's tragic loss is a reminder of the extraordinarily difficult conditions in which our armed forces are operating in Afghanistan," he said. |
| MOD HELPLINE A special helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives | |
| Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, with much of the fighting concentrated in the south. | |
| The latest crash comes as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar which has seen months of fighting. | The latest crash comes as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar which has seen months of fighting. |
| Earlier, Nato said its forces had launched a major offensive against known hideouts of Taleban insurgents in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar, with the aim of driving them out of the area. | |
| AFGHAN AIR CRASHES 31 August 2006 - Dutch F-16 fighter pilot dies in crash in south of country27 July 2006 - 16 people of multiple nationalities die in helicopter crash in south east6 May 2006 - 10 US soldiers die in helicopter crash in Kunar province24 April 2006- Five die when US anti-drugs plane crashes in southern Afghanistan11 November 2005 - Civilian cargo jet from Bagram crashes killing eight25 September 2005 - Five US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Zabul province16 August 2005 - 17 Spanish soldiers die when Cougar helicopter crashes near Herat28 June 2005 - 16 US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Kunar province6 April 2005 - 15 US soldiers and three civilian contractors die in helicopter crash in Ghazni province | |
| The plane came down about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar, Maj Scott Lundy of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said. | |
| There was no indication of an enemy attack on the plane, which was not a fighter jet. | |
| It was "supporting a Nato mission. It went off the radar and crashed in an open area", he said. | |
| The crash is thought to be the biggest single loss of British troops in Iraq or Afghanistan since military operations began there in 2001. | |
| Ten British armed personnel were killed when a Hercules C130K crashed north-west of Baghdad in January 2005. |