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Afghan media reported that a helicopter belonging to Taliban forces crashed in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province. The accident took place on January 3.
No detailed information was revealed, no casualties were reported as well. The accident was likely a result of some technical error.
The province of Kandahar is currently facing large floods. According to videos from the region, an important damage was caused by heavy rains, as rivers overflowed their banks and flooded the local settlements.
🔴AFGHANISTAN: SEVERE FLOODING IN KANDAHAR! 🚨 #VIDEO Rescue Operation of Kandahar Public Works Department
People were trapped in Tor Nika Manda area of #Maiwand district due to flash floods.#BreakingNews #Video #Kandahar #Flooding #Inundaciones #Inondations pic.twitter.com/si6Iwinexi
— loveworld (@LoveWorld_Peopl) January 4, 2022
The video shared by Daily Post news agency confirmed that military helicopters were deployed in the area for rescue operations.
🚁 Selde mahsur kalanlara yardım için helikopter gönderildi.
📍Yer: Afganistan’ın Kandahar eyaleti.pic.twitter.com/afMLvLcUVc
— Daily Post Turkey (@DailyPostTurkey) January 4, 2022
Thus, it can be supposed that the helicopter crashed during the rescue maneuvers.
The former U.S. reporter in Afghanistan claimed in Twitter that the rescue operation is carried out by the pilots from the 777th Special Mission Wing of the former Afghanistan’s special operations aviation force.
“Taliban thugs claimed it was their pilot — it’s a sheer lie. Those guys were from 777 Special Mission Wing. A few remaining pilots are from Helmand & Kandahar who willfully stayed and are flying rescue missions such as this, in spite of the existing dangers & hardships of life.”
Backstory on Kandahar helicopter flood rescue.
Pilots had gathered to leave to Kabul for holiday. They were in a bus in Kandahar airport when they got the call. Two pilots nakedly “Lt. Edris & Capt. Sami” got off the bus & went to their V-5 and flew the rescue mission. pic.twitter.com/BQZJvGxcl3
— 47 Mustafa (@CombatJourno) January 4, 2022
Meanwhile, the Taliban is trying to return aircraft from neighboring countries, where Afghan pilots escaped following the country’s fall under the Taliban’s control.
On January 3, TOLO news reported that Islamic Emirate officials have been in talks with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
According to the Islamic Emirate spokesperson, Inamullah Samangani, over 40 aircraft have been flown to neighboring countries, especially Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The negotiations at a high-level over the return of the aircraft. The exact number of the aircraft flown to the Central Asian states is unclear.
Earlier, the governments of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reportedly asked Washington to let them have custody of the aircraft. The US responded that it will consider the demand.
