U.S. helicopter crashes in southeastern Afghanistan, no injuries;

[DoYouEverWonder]

military rules out hostile fire.

http://www.nj.com/breakingnews/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0651_BC_Afghan-HelicopterCras&&news&tradecentercrash

6/28/04 1:57 PM

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A U.S. helicopter gunship crash-landed and burst into flames in southeastern Afghanistan on Monday, slightly injuring its crew, the American military said.

Investigators ruled out "hostile fire" as the cause, a military statement said.

The AH-64 Apache made an emergency landing Monday afternoon north of Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, 240 miles southwest of Kabul, according to the military.

"The aircraft caught on fire and was completely destroyed," the statement said.