Downed US helicopter kills six soldiers in Afghanistan

SIX US soldiers were killed when a helicopter crashed in southe Afghanistan. There are mixed reports as to whether or not it was shot down.

One person on board the Black Hawk UH-60 was injured and survived, two US defence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the record

The aircraft was an Army helicopter from an Army unit, but officials have not yet confirmed the identities nor the service branches of the individuals, a third official said.

A statement issued by the NATO inteational military coalition said the crash was under investigation and that there was no known insurgent activity in the area at the time of the crash.

In Washington, an official originally said the helicopter had experienced engine failure before the crash, but later said that it was unclear whether that was the case.

According to initial reports, the troops had mechanical problems, came under fire after the crash and it was unclear whether any of the casualties were the result of enemy fire.

The deputy goveor of southe Zabul province, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, said a NATO helicopter crashed in the remote district of Shajau and US officials later confirmed that Zabul was the location of the US crash.

This year, 109 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan, out of a total of 139 members of the coalition.

The death toll has dropped significantly since the coalition handed over responsibility for security to Afghan forces last summer and coalition troops are now training and assisting.

By comparison, 394 foreign troops died last year, including 297 Americans.