Officials: Seven died in US cargo plane crash in Afghanistan

NBCNews · Apr 30, 2013, 03:31 PM

By Kiko Itasaka and Akbar Shinwari, NBC NewsKABUL, Afghanistan -- Seven people were killed when a U.S.-run civilian cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Bagram Airfield outside of Kabul, officials said on Tuesday.

A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) added that the cause of Monday's crash was unknown, but dismissed Taliban claims of responsibility, saying there were no reports of "enemy activity" around the base.

ISAF did not release details on the nationalities of those killed, referring questions to National Air Cargo, the company running the flight.

National Air Cargo officials were not immediately available for comment. Slideshow: Afghanistan: Nation at a crossroads

Anja Niedringhaus / APMore than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.Launch slideshowThe Taliban claimed in a statement on Monday that it had shot down an American plane. It said the alleged downing of the plane was part of its spring offensive, which began Sunday and which the Taliban pledged would be "monumental.”

On Monday, ISAF's Lt. Quenton Roehricht said the plane had crashed "very shortly" after taking off at about 3 p.m. local time (6:30 a.m. ET).

The cargo plane crash came two days after four U.S. service members were killed when their surveillance aircraft in southern Afghanistan went down in bad weather.

NBC News' F. Brinley Bruton and Reuters contributed to this report.

Related:

The Taliban has issued a warning that it will increase attacks on foreign military forces in Afghanistan. NBC's Ron Mott reports.

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Shola Sholaz · Apr 30, 2013, 05:42 PM

Too bad i must say. May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace. This is not something they bargained for at all

Officials: Seven died in US cargo plane crash in Afghanistan

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Shola Sholaz