Collision blamed for helicopter crash

A helicopter crash in Afghanistan today caused by the two aircraft hitting each other, an Afghan commander has said.

A helicopter belonging to the Nato-led international security force in Afghanistan crashed in the west of the country, killing 17 Spanish troops.

The second helicopter landed heavily. There are survivors from that helicopter. Both choppers were on a training mission to support legislative elections next month.

In Madrid, a Spanish Defence Ministry official said 12 soldiers and five crew died in the accident near the western city of Heart.