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01-29-2020, 04:30 AM
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Smoldering Aftermath U.S. Bombardier E-11A Crash, Afghanistan
In Afghanistan's Ghazni province on Monday, a tragic incident unfolded involving a US military aircraft. According to a defense official who spoke to CNN, two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the aircraft. Additionally, military personnel who arrived at the crash site reported that sensitive equipment on the aircraft had been disabled. The latest information also suggests that the crew aboard the aircraft had issued a distress call, indicating some form of trouble with the aircraft. The defense official stated, "The force also recovered what is assessed to be the aircraft flight data recorder. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, however, there are no indications that the crash was caused by enemy fire. The remains were found near the crash site and were treated with dignity and respect by the local Afghan community, in accordance with their culture. U.S. forces then destroyed the remnants of the aircraft," as per an official statement. Colonel Sonny Leggett provided updates via Twitter, saying, "A U.S. Bombardier E-11A crashed today in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. While the cause of the crash is under investigation, there are no indications that the crash was caused by enemy fire. We will provide additional information as it becomes available." He also refuted claims made by the Taliban that additional aircraft had crashed. Numerous reports had emerged regarding the plane crash in the region, which is predominantly controlled by the Taliban and is situated to the southwest of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper acknowledged the situation on Monday but refrained from providing further details, stating that he had "nothing further to report at this time." He assured that the Pentagon would keep the media updated as the situation develops. The E-11A aircraft plays a crucial role in connecting troops in the field to headquarters and is often likened to "WiFi in the sky" by Air Force pilots. It forms a part of the Air Force's Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN), which was developed in response to communication challenges encountered during Operation Red Wings, a US military mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan, in 2005. The 2005 operation involved a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance patrol that was compromised, resulting in the loss of three SEALs and the downing of an MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying a rescue force, which claimed the lives of eight SEALs and eight Army Special Operations crew members. The operation's press release from 2018 highlighted the communication difficulties faced due to Afghanistan's mountainous terrain and lack of existing communication infrastructure. |