The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan says five of its personnel, including two British soldiers, have been killed in a "nonhostile" helicopter crash at the mission’s headquarters in Kabul.
NATO’s Resolute Support coalition said five others were injured in the October 11 incident, which is currently being investigated.
The statement did not give details about the nationalities of those killed or injured when the helicopter crashed shortly after 4 p.m.
But Britain said two of its air force personnel were among the dead, confirming that it was “an accident and not the result of insurgent activity."
Earlier, a U.S. military spokesman was quoted as saying an "incident" involving a NATO aircraft and an observational balloon had taken place "in the vicinity of the Resolute Support base."
Helicopters have been increasingly used in recent months in Afghanistan -- including within Kabul -- by personnel from embassies, NATO contractors, and foreign troops due to the risk of attacks on convoys.
Also on October 11, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car near a foreign military convoy in downtown Kabul during the morning rush hour.
Officials said there were no fatalities in that attack, which targeted forces attached to the Resolute Support mission, but that three Afghan civilians were injured in the bombing.
Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, Khamma.com, AP, and Reuters