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| 14 UK troops die in Afghan crash | 14 UK troops die in Afghan crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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 plane, based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland, belonged to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban. | The reconnaissance plane, based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland, belonged to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban. |
| Officials said the incident appeared to be an accident and Tony Blair said it would "distress the whole country". | Officials said the incident appeared to be an accident and Tony Blair said it would "distress the whole country". |
| 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." |
| The 12 RAF personnel on board the were all based at Kinloss and from the Moray area, a spokesman from the base said. | The 12 RAF personnel on board the were all based at Kinloss and from the Moray area, a spokesman from the base said. |
| All next of kin have been informed. | All next of kin have been informed. |
| Angus Robertson is the SNP MP for Moray. | Angus Robertson is the SNP MP for Moray. |
| "This is tragic news for the families and friends of the service personnel at RAF Kinloss," he said. | "This is tragic news for the families and friends of the service personnel at RAF Kinloss," he said. |
| "It brings home the terrible danger that our service personnel face and that they perform their duties with selflessness. | "It brings home the terrible danger that our service personnel face and that they perform their duties with selflessness. |
| "Our thoughts go out to everybody connected with the victims and RAF Kinloss at this time." | "Our thoughts go out to everybody connected with the victims and RAF Kinloss at this time." |
| '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 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. |
| Crash implications probed MPs and experts respond | Crash implications probed MPs and experts respond |
| 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. | 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 service personnel. | But he paid tribute to the "quite remarkable" resilience and morale of British 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." |
| MOD HELPLINE A special helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives | MOD HELPLINE A special helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives |
| 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. |
| Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, with much of the fighting concentrated in the south. | Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, with much of the fighting concentrated in the south. |
| Some 4,500 British troops are in the country to help train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction, and provide security. | Some 4,500 British troops are in the country to help train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction, and provide security. |
| But in Helmand, the emphasis is also on counter-narcotics, as the province is the "largest single source of opium in Afghanistan". | But in Helmand, the emphasis is also on counter-narcotics, as the province is the "largest single source of opium in Afghanistan". |
| British troops have found themselves in virtually daily gun battles with the Taleban, who have been regrouping. | British troops have found themselves in virtually daily gun battles with the Taleban, who have been regrouping. |
| 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 | 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 crash comes as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar. | The crash comes as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Ten British armed personnel were killed when a Hercules C130K crashed north-west of Baghdad in January 2005. |
| There have been four previous crashes of Nimrods since 1980, two of them involving fatalities. | |
| The last 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. |