A U.S. military Chinook helicopter capable of carrying more than 30 people crashed on an anti-guerrilla mission in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday but the fate of those on board was not immediately known, Reuters reported. The U.S. military was unable to say how many were on board but CNN quoted an unidentified U.S. military official as saying "about 16 U.S. troops" were on the helicopter. "A rocket was fired at an American helicopter in the district," said an Afghan official in Kunar province, where the crash occurred. He requested anonymity. A Pentagon official, asking not to be named, said: "I wouldn't rule out anything." The crash occurred west of the city of Asadabad in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan, and the twin-rotor CH-47 was transporting troops into an area in support of U.S. forces, the U.S. military said in a statement. "The cause of the crash and status of survivors is unknown at this time," the statement said. "U.S. fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are currently providing close air support to the forces on the ground." --More 2237 Local Time 1937 GMT
