KABUL (AFP) - A coalition helicopter was forced into an emergency landing after coming under attack in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said Saturday. The helicopter made the “forced landing” on Friday afternoon after it was attacked with gunfire in the volatile Helmand province but there were no casualties, ISAF said in a statement. “An ISAF helicopter made a forced landing near an Afghan National Security Forces checkpoint in Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province,” the statement said. “The helicopter was assessed to have received small arms fire. “The helicopter landed safely and without incident and the aircrew was recovered unharmed.
The helicopter was recovered to a nearby coalition base.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the Taliban, who are leading a 10-year insurgency against NATO and Afghan government forces, were not reachable for comment.
On August 6 insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter in Wardak province, southwest of the capital Kabul, claiming 38 lives, including 30 US troops.