Afghan Air Force Mi-17 Helicopters Collide Killing Nine Service Members

Two Afghan Ai Force Mi-17 helicopters collided while transporting wounded soldiers in the southern Helmand province, killing nine Afghan service members.

The incident occurred just after take off from a forward operating base in Nawa-i-Barakzayi district late Tuesday. The nine dead were all Afghan crew and soldiers who had been on board the aircraft.

Omer Zwak, a spokesman for Helmand’s provincial governor, said the helicopters were carrying wounded soldiers. Three local officials in Helmand province said the helicopters were deploying Afghan commandos to repel a Taliban attack in Nawa district, and were evacuating wounded soldiers on their return flight.

The Afghan Ai Force has around 100 Mi/8Mi-17 helicopters in its inventory.