U.S. Soldiers Injured in Afghan Helicopter Crash

Reuters | 1/28/02

[kattracks]

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S. military helicopter carrying 24 people crashed as it tried to land in rough terrain in northern Afghanistan after leaving Kandahar late on Monday, a U.S. military official said on Tuesday.

U.S. Army Colonel Frank Wiercianski told reporters at Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan that all 24 people on board the Chinook CH-47 helicopter had been evacuated and 14 of them had been sent for medical treatment.

No one was killed and none of the injuries sustained were life-threatening, he said.

"I'm very relieved to report that 100 percent of all personnel were evacuated from that site and were taken to a medical facility," he said.

He declined to say where the accident happened, as the night operation was still under way. There were 18 passengers and six crew on board. Wiercianski did not say how many of the 24 were U.S. troops.

"None of the injuries sustained were life-threatening and hopefully all will be back on duty very soon," he said.

Wiercianski said the aircraft hit a hole when it landed and tipped on its side.

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[demkicker]

"Even well maintained helicopters don't respond well to landing in a hole."

"If your helicopter lands on the edge of a hole or in a hole, things go KaBoom!"

Maybe this is a dumb question, but couldn't a spotlight in the dark prevent landing in holes, and can't flat ground be found in daytime to land on? Sorry, but this seems like such a simple solution that could avoid tragedy, but then again, I'm obviously not a pilot. Just curious.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I was not trained as an infantryman. The day I arrived in Viet Nam the 173rd was in a very large battle taking many casualties. I was assigned where the Army needed me at the time. I sure would have liked to take a two week course on Air Assault, but there was no time.

My Infantry training was OJT sort of speak, which is a heck of a way to learn it.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

They're flying at night, using NVG's; Night Vision Goggles. If there isn't a lot of ambient light, obstacles can be hard to see. Even though the moon is full, they might have encountered overcast. Also, depending on the terrain there can be a lot of sand and dust that get's kicked up during landing further obscuring the LZ.

Tactical aviation is dangerous, even in peacetime and as much as I loathe the impeached former Coward in Chief I'd love to blame him for every mishap, but I can't.

[demkicker]

Thanks for the explanation. Here's hoping modern technology will soon provide a remedy for these tragedies which have become all too common.

[Grampa Dave]

First of all this appeared to be an insertion attempt to place some of our special guys into possible hostile territory. Otherwise, they would not be trying a high mountain landing in the dark.

The last thing that you would want would be to use lights on your aircraft to check out the LZ. That would make the entire aircraft a visible target, and it would alert the bad guys where our good guys are landing.

You need to ask Dustoff45 for his expertise here re landing a helicopter and what can happen.