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(2009-10-26)
A U.S. Blackhawk helicopter lifts off from Kandahar Air Field at sunset in southern Afghanistan
Two helicopters crashes have made this the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in more than four years.
The separate incidents killed 14 Americans. U.S. authorities have ruled out hostile fire in the collision of two U.S. choppers in flight, but have not given a cause for the other crash.
In that incident, a helicopter was leaving the scene of a firefight with insurgents when it went down in the western part of the country. Seven U.S. troops and three civilians working for the government were killed. Another 11 American troops, one American civilian and 14 Afghan were injured.
The second crash took place in the south. The collision killed four U.S. troops and injured two others.
It's the heaviest loss of life for U.S. forces in a single day since June 28, 2005. Sixteen troops were killed that day when insurgents shot down a special forces helicopter.
The deaths come as President Barack Obama prepares to meet with his national security team to discuss the future of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. © Copyright 2009, Associated Press
