Three people died when a civilian helicopter contracted to NATO forces crashed in flames in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province on Monday, officials said. The aircraft had “gone down due to mechanical problems,” said Daud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial government. “Three people on board died as a civilian helicopter crashed in flames in Nad Ali district near Shora,” a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Afghan police had earlier reported that a “foreign troops’ helicopter” had crashed, and Taliban insurgents claimed they had shot it down.
