Nine dead after plane crashes at US base in Afghanistan

By Zabihullah Tamanna

KABUL, Afghanistan

A cargo plane crashed on Thursday while landing at a U.S. forces base in southern Afghanistan killing all nine people on board, Afghan officials told Anadolu Agency.

“The incident took place in Garamser district in the southern province of Helmand,” Omar Zawak, the provincial governor’s spokesman, said.

A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is unauthorized to speak to the media, told Anadolu Agency that all nine people on board had been killed. The plane’s crew included three Ukrainians, five Azeris and one Uzbek.

According to the official, U.S. forces had rented the plane from Azerbaijan to transport logistical supplies.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.