Nevada National Guard helicopter crash lands in Afghanistan, no one injured
A Nevada Army National Guard Chinook helicopter was destroyed in a non-hostile incident after the crew attempted to land it in eastern Afghanistan, but no one on board was significantly injured, Guard officials in Carson City said Tuesday.
The Associated Press in Kabul reported that a coalition Chinook helicopter was heavily damaged during a hard landing late Monday night in Logar province, and the crew destroyed it before they were evacuated.
A Nevada National Guard spokeswoman in Carson City, Air Force Maj. April Conway, confirmed that the helicopter was destroyed but couldn’t confirm whether the crew destroyed it.
She said the helicopter involved in the hard landing was a CH-47 Chinook assigned to the Nevada Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 189th Aviation Regiment, based in Stead.
"There were no significant injuries and all guardsmen have returned to duty," Conway said in a news release.
The crew consisted of four Nevada Guard soldiers and one soldier from the Montana National Guard.
"The cause of the incident and possible damage to the aircraft is still under investigation," the news release said.
Six Chinooks are assigned to Nevada’s 1st Squadron, 189th Aviation Regiment.
The incident is the first involving a Nevada Guard Chinook or crew in Afghanistan since two were attacked in 2005.
On Sept. 25, 2005, a rocket-propelled grenade struck the fuel tank of a Chinook belonging to the Oregon National Guard, killing Nevada National Guard Chief Warrant Officer John M. Flynn, of Sparks and Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart, of Fernley.
The $18 million Chinook from the 113th Aviation Regiment was operated jointly by the National Guard in Nevada and Oregon.
On Dec. 3, 2005, a Nevada National Guard Chinook with five crew members and 30 soldiers on board went down in a mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan after it came under attack on a combat mission.
The Chinook, known as Mustang-69, was destroyed by fire after the pilot made an emergency landing.
Two soldiers were wounded, and two crew members suffered minor injuries but returned to duty the next day.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
