Backgrounder: NATO Air Crashes in Afghanistan in 2012

Roundup of this year's incidents...

Helicopters in Afghanistan, photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(KABUL Xinhua) - Two soldiers with the NATO-led coalition or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed when a military helicopter crashed in Garmser district of restive southern Helmand province Thursday morning.

The following is the coalition's air crash incidents in Afghanistan so far in 2012.

On Aug. 28 -- An ISAF helicopter made a forced landing in eastern Logar province, leaving no casualties.

On Aug. 16 -- Seven U.S. troops, three Afghan soldiers and a local translator were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Shah Wali Kot district of southern Kandahar province.

On Aug. 3 -- No crew members were injured when a helicopter made a forced landing in western Afghanistan.

On July 18 -- Two ISAF soldiers were injured when a helicopter went down in western Afghanistan

On June 21 -- A NATO aircraft made a forced landing in eastern Afghanistan, causing no fatalities.

On June 6 -- Two NATO soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in eastern Ghazni province.

On May 28 -- A NATO helicopter crashed in eastern Wardak province, leaving two U.S. service members dead.

On May 28 -- A NATO aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan, causing no casualties.

On April 19 -- Four U.S. soldier lost their lives when a helicopter crashed in Garmser district of Helmand province.

On March 25 -- A NATO aircraft made a hard landing in southern Afghanistan with no casualties.

On March 16 -- Twelve Turkish soldiers with the NATO-led ISAF and four civilians on the ground were killed when an ISAF helicopter crashed in eastern part of capital city of Kabul.

On Feb. 6 -- A NATO helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, no casualties.

On Jan. 19 -- Six U.S. soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Musa Qala district of Helmand province.

Source: Xinhua

Below: 'Helicopters Thunder Across Afghanistan' by Tim King