Investigators are looking into last week's Black Hawk crash in Afghanistan that killed four soldiers, including one from San Diego. They suspect Taliban insurgents were involved in shooting down the helicopter.
The Stars and Stripes reports that U.S. military officials initially told reporters it was unlikely that enemy fire was to blame for the fatal crash:
But two sources with direct knowledge of the crash and the investigation have since told Stars and Stripes that it now looks more likely that the helicopter was shot down by enemy fire. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
In response to questions by the Stars and Stripes, ISAF Joint Command spokesman Capt. Justin Brockhoff responded:
“Investigators are looking at all of the variables but at this time it would be getting out in front of that to say more.”
The Department of Defense reports all four U.S. soldiers on board the UH-60L Black Hawk were killed in the crash. One, 27-year-old Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas Johnson, was from San Diego.
The three others killed were Spc. Dean Shaffer, 23, Pekin, Illinois; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don Viray, 25, Waipahu, Hawaii; and Spc. Chris Workman, 33, Boise, Idaho.
