Seven killed in US cargo plane crash at Afghan base
 

A US civilian cargo plane has crashed at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, killing its seven crew, officials say.

The plane came down shortly after take-off and crashed within the boundaries of the huge US-run airbase, said a Nato spokesperson at the base.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the crash, but their involvement was denied by Nato.

Bagram, near the Afghan capital Kabul, is the largest military base for US troops in Afghanistan.

Witnesses said the plane reached an altitude of some 400m (1,300ft) before suddenly "falling out of the sky", Bagram's district governor, Abdul Shukor, told Reuters news agency.

The crash was confirmed by the plane's owners, National Air Cargo.

"We did lose all seven crew members," said a spokeswoman for the Florida-based firm.

The Taliban were quick to claim responsibility, telling the Pakistan-based Afghan Islam Press they shot down the plane.

But Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said there were no reports of militant activity in or around the base at the time of the crash.

No cause for the crash has been given - Nato said it is being investigated.

The crash comes two days after four military personnel were killed in a crash in the southern Afghan province of Zabul, which officials said was also not due to military activity.


BBC

Meanwhile, apparent footage of the crash has appeared...


The video was recorded from a cars in-dash camera, and shows the Boeing 747 cargo flight twisting and dropping rapidly before crashing.

Investigations on how the crash occurred are continuing.

Link

Terrible. May the ones who lost their lives rest in peace.

:shocked: holy crap at that video!

I know. The way it drops like that. :shocked: The crew didn't stand a chance.

It's chilling to think about the people on it, such a horrid way to die.

Strange... I can't find this story in the News ??

Oh ... Just found it on Fox News, they are reporting it as an accident not a Taliban attack, either way its more life's lost needlessly...!!!

It says in the original story that the Taliban claimed responsibility but their involvement was denied and a link to the story was provided.

The Taliban made up for the false claim with the lives of three British soldiers today though, sadly.

I read about this on the News, they were surprised the IED used was able to inflict the amount of damage it did as these Vehicles are heavily armoured and should be safe from the normal IED's the Taliban use.Maybe they got lucky with this particular IED, either way very sad more young lives lost.....!!!!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...71_634x407.jpg


Yes Tragic Accident

Yes, I heard they "got lucky". Sadly, even when you've got the maximum armoured protection you're still at risk, and as our protection improves, so do their devices. Let's hope our troops are out of there soon.

It really is so scary seeing something so large in the sky going out of control. I HATE flying. This video is my worst nightmare.

The Taliban trying to claim responsibility for it is sooo pathetic. It's clear that the engines stalled on take off, the Taliban and Muslim Extremists had nothing to do with it. **** you muslims trying to take responsibility.