Tue, Sep 05, 2006
Several Injured When A-10s Strafe Troops
NATO troops deployed as
part of the continuing effort to expel terrorist elements from
Afghanistan are reeling from the latest casualty of what has been a
particularly devastating weekend.
A Canadian soldier was killed Monday... and several other troops
with NATO's International Security Assistance Force were wounded...
in a "friendly fire" accident involving two US aircraft, reported
by the Associated Press as A-10 Thunderbolts. The planes were
called in to provide air support to troops battling Taliban
insurgents in the Panjwayi.
"Two ISAF aircraft provided the support but regrettably engaged
friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons," said a NATO
spokesperson.
Lieutenant General David Richards -- the head of NATO forces in
Afghanistan -- sent his sympathies to "all of the soldiers and
their loved ones who've been affected by this very sad
incident".
"It is particularly distressing to us all when, despite the care
and precautions that are always applied, a tragedy like this
happens," Richards added.
The incident comes after four Canadian soldiers were killed in
ground fighting in Afghanistan this weekend... and as Aero-News reported, 14
British service personnel were lost when their Nimrod aircraft
went down Saturday.
An investigation has been launched into the incident. If reports
are confirmed, it will mark the second time US aircraft have fired on Canadian troops
in Afghanistan.
A joint US-Canadian investigation found an American F-16 pilot
didn't follow proper procedures when he mistakenly dropped a
500-pound laser-guided bomb on a group of Canadian soldiers in
Afghanistan, killing four in the April 2002 incident.
More News
Touchdown Zone Lighting Two rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The basic system extends 3,000 feet alon>[...]
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in subor>[...]
"We are reaching out to you today on behalf of the Popular Rotorcraft Association because we need your help. We are dangerously close to losing a critical resource that if lost, wi>[...]
UAS Traffic Management (UTM) The unmanned aircraft traffic management ecosystem that will allow multiple low altitude BVLOS operations and which is separate from, but complementary>[...]
Aero Linx: Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) SAFE is a member-oriented organization of aviation educators fostering professionalism and excellence in aviation through>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.02.24): Touchdown Zone Lighting
See All