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Canadian Chinook Crash 15 (16?) May 11 - all crew/pax survived

Strike

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5htDtZI4X_6RB61ZLIPqqZ7Fbm9Zg?docId=6860247
Canadian helicopter crashes on landing in Afghanistan; four soldiers injured

By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press – 48 minutes ago

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Four Canadian soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, when a Chinook helicopter crashed on landing under moonlight in a remote part of Panjwaii district in southern Afghanistan early Monday morning.

The chopper, carrying five crew and about 25 soldiers along with a Canadian Press journalist, flipped onto its side, throwing men and equipment into a mad tangle of bodies, weapons and gear.

"The noise was just horrifying," said one soldier of the hull and rotors scraping.

Despite the smell of fuel, there was no fire but the helicopter was severely damaged.

"I just wanted to get out because I could smell gasoline," said Master Bombadier Nick Gurton.

Many of those aboard spent several terrifying minutes trapped in the confusion but everyone was finally able to make their way from the stricken craft and into the dusty moonlit night safely.

Soldiers immediately began setting up a security cordon, and feverishly went to work in near darkness, using only small flash lights or headlamps on the injured, one of whom screamed and thrashed in agony.

"We're just lucky we did not come under (enemy) contact," another soldier said.

Medevac helicopters arrived and three of the injured were flown to hospital at Kandahar Airfield. The fourth was treated at the crash site.

The two-rotor Chinook was attempting to land on a dry river bed in the darkness, when it hit hard on one side before crashing onto its side.

"I don't blame the pilot at all," a soldier said of the difficult landing.

The helicopter, along with a second Chinook that landed safely, was deploying troops on an operation when the crash occurred.

The mission was called off as a result of the mishap.

"I guess we're not saving Afghanistan today," said Warrant Officer Steve (Scott) Scotto d'Anielo.

The second Chinook, with the pilots from the first aboard, departed for the base. A Chinook was called in, arriving as day broke, to ferry the rest of the passengers back to a forward operating base.

Soldiers and tanks called in for support formed a ring to ensure the insurgents could not get to the damaged helicopter.

As the shock wore off and the injured were safely taken care of, soldiers finally expressed relief at making it out safely.

"I survived a crash," one said.

Capt. Cory Durant, who was promoted five days ago, said he didn't expect to die in a chopper crash so soon after his promotion.

The Canadian Press reporter had to struggle to free himself initially, but only suffered some bruises and scrapes along with damaged camera equipment.

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



*mod edit to thread title to indicate all survived*
 
Good to hear all survived, speedy recovery to the injured.  :cdn:
 
I always find it very heartening when, in the midst of all the mayhem of war, the good guys got near, but escaped the worst possible outcome.
 
Wishing a speedy recovery to the seriously injured soldier.
 
No thanks to the embedded journalist for breaking the story before the troops had the opportunity to notify their families.  Anything for a story eh!

  Speedy recovery!
 
The Gues-|- said:
No thanks to the embedded journalist for breaking the story before the troops had the opportunity to notify their families.  Anything for a story eh!

  Speedy recovery!
I'm fairly certain that the timelines were followed.  The press is normally pretty good at respecting those timelines.



But this is GOOD news: nobody died.  Speedy recovery to those who were hurt!  :salute:
 
Here's wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.  :salute:

P.S. - Taliban claims responsibility (see attached), alleging everyone killed.
 
I'm not huge ont he OMG OPSEC but if I was doing things like landing under moonlight in a remote part's of the Panjwaii district  and shit I don't think I would want the press releasing my name but that's just me.  I made a point NOT to talk to the media, let along drop my name.
 
Grimaldus said:
I'm not huge ont he OMG OPSEC but if I was doing things like landing under moonlight in a remote part's of the Panjwaii district  and shit I don't think I would want the press releasing my name but that's just me.  I made a point NOT to talk to the media, let along drop my name.

As a member of the PA branch, may I just say  ::)
 
Maybe I'm out to lunch but I still don't like my name splashed across the media. I took 5 minutes and found out quite a bit about this fellow
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=171900213

Obviously as a PA type you're more pro media then a nobody grunt like me. I'll just steer clear and let some chatty cathy do the talking ;)

Pretty wild that everyone made it out though. When I first heard we had one go down I thought the worst.
 
The latest from the Taliban Info-Machine - now that they know it was Canadians aboard, they've edited their claim of responsibility.  Still claiming everyone was killed or wounded, though.
 
milnews.ca said:
Still claiming everyone was killed or wounded, though.
It actually claims everyone was killed and wounded.  That is a very odd statement.  Their PAO should be fired.
 
MCG said:
It actually claims everyone was killed and wounded. 

Now that's what I call the ultimate form of multitasking... Killed and wounded at the same time.
 
Is it for sure it was a Canadian Chinook that went down could it have been the US etc?
 
Ex-Dragoon said:
Is it for sure it was a Canadian Chinook that went down could it have been the US etc?

Canadian crew in a Canadian (former US) Chinook.  Been chatting with people over there about it.
 
Technoviking said:
I'm fairly certain that the timelines were followed.  The press is normally pretty good at respecting those timelines.



But this is GOOD news: nobody died.  Speedy recovery to those who were hurt!  :salute:

I'm completely certain the story was on cbc before any troops had made it back from the crash site. 
 
The Gues-|- said:
I'm completely certain the story was on cbc before any troops had made it back from the crash site.

Still, the media wouldn't release the story before being given the thumbs up from the CF-side.  Since there were no deaths there's not as much of a requirement to wait for people to contact families.  I would hazard a guess that the media didn't release the story until those who were flown back to KAF for treatment had a chance to call someone.

An incident like this doesn't warrant the same time delay as something the resulted in a death.
 
The Gues-|- said:
I'm completely certain the story was on cbc before any troops had made it back from the crash site.
Trololololol.


If that is the case, then how did the embedded reporter (at the crash site) get back to file the story?  And make it to the wire?  And be published?  I mean, there isn't some goof in the CBC with his fingers on the keyboard, waiting on the home row, as his direct link from Afghanistan calls him on the Red Phone tm, ready to illustrate once again that we are in a losing mission?


The reporters there know the deal.  If they don't play by the rules, they will get escorted to the main gate and told to have a nice day.
 
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