Foreign Pilot And Two Afghan Soldiers Die In Helicopter Crash

A foreign pilot and two Afghan soldiers were killed when a helicopter contracted by Nato crashed inside an army base, an Afghan official has said.

Army spokesman Major Hanif Rezaie said three others, including another foreign pilot, were wounded when the MI-14 helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from the base near the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

The crash was caused by a technical problem and the helicopter caught fire after it hit the ground, Maj Rezaie said.

He said there was no enemy fire.

Seven other security forces on board the helicopter were rescued.

Maj Rezaie was unable to confirm the nationality of the two foreign pilots.