A British Chinook crew have escaped unharmed after their helicopter was destroyed in Afghanistan last night.
The Ministry of Defence told inthenews.co.uk that the crew were forced to make an emergency landing after an engine fire broke out with the copter above Helmand province.
The crew safely evacuated to be extracted by another Chinook.
'The helicopter was later deliberately destroyed by a coalition air strike to deny it from enemy forces,' a spokesperson said.
'The cause of the incident is still under investigation, however enemy action has not been ruled out.'
The loss of the helicopter is a blow to UK operations in Afghanistan following intense criticism back home of a perceived lack of resources.
The MoD said other UK and Nato aircraft would cover for the destroyed helicopter while a replacement was procured.
The Ministry of Defence told inthenews.co.uk that the crew were forced to make an emergency landing after an engine fire broke out with the copter above Helmand province.
The crew safely evacuated to be extracted by another Chinook.
'The helicopter was later deliberately destroyed by a coalition air strike to deny it from enemy forces,' a spokesperson said.
'The cause of the incident is still under investigation, however enemy action has not been ruled out.'
The loss of the helicopter is a blow to UK operations in Afghanistan following intense criticism back home of a perceived lack of resources.
The MoD said other UK and Nato aircraft would cover for the destroyed helicopter while a replacement was procured.
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