June 6th, 2012
10:10 AM ET

U.S. helicopter believed shot down in Afghanistan; 2 killed

[Updated at 10:23 a.m. ET] The U.S. believes one of its armed helicopters was shot down over Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing both crew members on board, a U.S. military official said.

"It is likely that the helo today was brought down due to enemy small arms and RPG fire," the official said. The chopper was a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter. It went down over Ghazni province.

In a statement, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the downing of the helicopter, saying a rocket was used.

"After the rocket hit it, the helicopter came down and took fire," said an e-mail sent by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

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Filed under: Afghanistan • Military
soundoff (148 Responses)
  1. AHR

    Little bird!

    June 6, 2012 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
  2. Army Vet

    @AmericanEagle

    Thank you for proving my point.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
  3. CB

    The U.S. "believes"

    How about a little respect for the families of our service members? If I were the spouse or child of someone who's job was to be on those helicopters ANd they are deployed... I would be very worried right now all the way until I could get in touch with somebody. I really think CNN should wait for a official confirmed report before posting a "maybe" story.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:08 am | Report abuse |
  4. saywhat

    No @Jake 2055
    We wouldn't and couldn't do that right at the doorstep of Russia & China and the Central republics. Russia has already drawn a line in the sand,if you will. Even threatening preemptive strikes if it feels threatened.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:09 am | Report abuse |
    • Jake2055

      Agreed... But there may come a time very soon now that we disregard that caution. This is not something that I wish for. I have a Daughter in the Army with 2 tours in Afghan and 1 in Iraq. My point is that our enemies believe that we will continue to allow our families and friends (Whom we have named allies) to be attacked with only limited response when we have the capability at this moment to destroy them. Restraint that may only be exercised for a short while longer. Let's hope for our children's sake and the children of the world, that we never have to take that option. There will only be losers in the aftermath of World War Three.

      June 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Not a Scholar

    Other countries need to stop getting into situations they can't handle and stop asking other countries to step in and get them out of it. Look at Syria. Nobody over there has asked for help and we are not providing any. In Libya they asked for help and we gave it. The Middle Eastern countries continually ask for our assistance with their messed up situations. Or they threaten to cut off oil supplies. So fix your own problems...

    June 6, 2012 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
  6. bring are us boy s and girl back home. anthony from ky

    HOw you doing buddy

    June 6, 2012 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
  7. TriXen

    We should feed you to the dogs instead.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:11 am | Report abuse |
  8. Maxx

    "Jake2055"... you are a sick, very sick person!

    June 6, 2012 at 11:11 am | Report abuse |
    • Jake2055

      We are fighting an enemy that executes women and children with airplanes and straps suicide bombs on 8 year olds, beheads helpless, unarmed and tied old men while videotaping their deeds and screaming their God is Great, attacking their enemies while hiding behind the skirts of their own country's women and forcing them to carry and pass them the ammo. Suicide Bombs non-combatant clubs and malls... and much, much more... and you call ME sick?!... RIGHT!

      June 6, 2012 at 1:16 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Not a Scholar

    Are we seriously communicating with the Taliban through email?

    June 6, 2012 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  10. TriXen

    And yet Obama wants to "negotiate" with these folks.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  11. Really.

    That's a pretty pathetic thing to say, whether about Americans or any other nations people. What a poor, sad soul you must be to wish those things upon anyone. Internally, you probably view yourself as very righteous, which makes it all the more sad and pathetic.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
    • Hope

      CNN:

      Comments are out of order... again.

      TIA

      June 6, 2012 at 3:30 pm | Report abuse |
  12. saywhat

    @Army Vet
    You missed the point. I said needless waste of American blood. In that statement alone one can feel the pain I feel for our men & women who put their lives on line.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  13. Subramanya Raju

    Stop the War(s). Violence breeds more Violence.......Stop looking for problems outside America start looking within.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:15 am | Report abuse |
  14. Oldguy173

    What an incredibly irresponsible headline to publish! 'Believed", "may"....my god people, do you not realize the fear that causes with parents of soldiers over there. What ever happened to reporting the facts?

    June 6, 2012 at 11:16 am | Report abuse |
    • Vet

      Agree. Is it really so important to get the first scoop, CNN? Now thousands of families of helicopter crews and soldiers are worrying that it might be their sons or daughters that have gone down. What happened to responsible journalism? Wait until you get confirmation. Good lord, military aircraft go missing all the time, due to radio malfunctions and other equipment breaking down, and then pop back up. Fingers crossed this aircraft hasn't gone down.

      June 6, 2012 at 11:25 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Ginger:
      The 'so what' is that every parent who has a child who pilots/crews a helo is going through hell.
      That's the 'so what'.
      Obviously you have no one over there to worry about.

      June 6, 2012 at 11:49 am | Report abuse |
  15. GRK041668

    Of course the taliban are going to claim the did it. cowards.

    June 6, 2012 at 11:17 am | Report abuse |
    • JDavis

      @GRK041668 - Explain how they are cowards for claiming the downing of our helicopter when we ourselves say it was shot down? And how is anyone a coward going up against American technological superiority? I'd say they are rather heroic.

      June 6, 2012 at 12:21 pm | Report abuse |
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