A helicopter carrying Afghanistan's army chief and a Cabinet minister crashed Saturday shortly after takeoff and exploded in flames, but all on board managed to escape the burning wreckage. The pilot and Sediqa Balkhi, the minister for the disabled, were slightly injured, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the crash. The Afghan army chopper had just taken off when it suddenly turned on its side and plunged back to the ground before bursting into flames. Moments later it exploded, sending shrapnel flying in several directions. Presidential spokesman Khaleeq Ahmed said the crash occurred because the chopper's rotor blades clipped a tree during takeoff.
