Crew rescued after second Nato 'copter crash-lands

A NATO helicopter crash-landed yesterday in eastern Afghanistan, just days after the downing of a Chinook dispatched to bring in reinforcements for elite troops under attack.

Nato did not report any casualties in the latest incident and said the cause was under investigation.

The coalition said there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.

The helicopter was a CH-47 flying in Paktia province to pick up special operations troops, but it apparently suffered a mechanical failure and crash-landed, an officer in the war zone said.

The crew were rescued by troops.

Another Chinook was apparently shot down on Saturday in eastern Wardak province on a mission targeting a Taleban leader.

Thirty Americans and eight Afghans were killed in the crash, making it the deadliest single loss for US forces in the decade-long war in Afghanistan.

A current and a former US official said the Americans included 22 Seals, three air force members and a dog handler and his dog.

All but two of the Seals were from Seal Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden, officials said, although none of the men took part in that mission.