Total mayhem!

A U.S. Department of Defence publication released this amateur footage of an Apache AH-64 military helicopter losing control and crashing in Afghanistan’s Paktiva province. The footage shows the US$20 million helicopter attempting to perform a “return to target” maneuver, described as a “low swoop followed up by the 180 degree turn followed by another swoop,” an aerial move that helicopter pilots would be extensively trained to do.

Of course, how could the interwebs decline such a yummy treat!? As the 50-second clip slowly edges up the slopes of Mount Viral, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is what the NATO is calling the War in Afghanistan these days, rushed to explain the event, saying,

Two AH-64s were gathering supplies that were airdropped earlier in the day and one of the aircraft crashed. Thankfully no one on the ground was injured and both members of the aircrew survived. An investigation is underway by U.S. Army officials to determine the cause and any other factors behind the incident.

Some critics have called out the security forces for regularly “buzzing” settlements in the region with low-flying craft. According to Wired, during correspondent David Axe’s visit to Afghanistan in January, helicopters regularly buzzed low “as a demonstration of American power” and “a morale boost for the isolated troops.”

[Source: The Daily, Huffington Post]