theaustralian.com.au


INSURGENT ground fire may have been a factor in a fatal helicopter crash over southern Afghanistan yesterday.

An Australian army aviator died and five others were injured in the crash.The chopper, an Australian Army twin-rotor Chinook, crashed during a resupply mission after departing southern Kandahar air base, Defence chief Angus Houston said.
In a black day for the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan, the helicopter crash occurred just hours after an Australian soldier was shot and killed by a "rogue soldier" from the Afghan National Army.
Air Chief Marshal Houston said he did not know what caused the Chinook to crash but enemy action could not be ruled out.
"We're very eager to know whether any enemy action was involved or whether there was some other problem with the helicopter," he said.
The helicopter crashed 90km east of Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan province about 9pm last night AEST.
A US Chinook, which accompanying the Australian helicopter, landed immediately to provide medivac assistance.The Australian officer received treatment but died at the crash site.The five crash survivors all Australian are now recovering in a coalition military hospital in Kandahar.
It brings to 26 the number of ADF soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan and follows the death last week of special forces Sergeant Brett Wood.
The 27-year-old army lieutenant had served in East Timor and had most recently flown disaster relief missions in flood-stricken Queensland.