BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Five U.S. service members were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in what became the deadliest day for U.S. soldiers there this year. WCAX News has confirmed that one of the troops had ties to Vermont.
The Blackhawk helicopter went down near the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. A U.S. military official says all five people on board were Americans.
"The investigation is ongoing, however early reporting indicates that the crash is not related to any enemy activities," said ISAF spokesman Brigadier General Gunter Katz.
A source tells WCAX News that one of the troops on board the chopper had ties to Vermont. He was not a Guardsman. He was an Army soldier. The Vermont National Guard has dispatched members of its Casualty Notification Team to inform next of kin. Some family members in Vermont have already been notified.
The military does not release the names of fallen soldiers until at least 24 hours after their deaths. We expect more information Wednesday.
