16 troops killed in downed US helicopter

American soldiers were today identifying the remains of 16 troops killed when their special forces helicopter was shot down and plunged into a mountain ravine in eastern Afghanistan.

The MH-47 Chinook helicopter went down on Tuesday while ferrying troops to a battle against militants – the deadliest single blow to American forces who ousted the Taliban in 2001 for harbouring al-Qaida and are now grappling with an escalating insurgency.