Five NATO staff die in RAF helicopter crash in Afghanistan

Five people, including two RAF personnel, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, according to international reports.

The BBC reports that the Puma Mk2 helicopter crashed as it was landing at Nato's Resolute Support mission headquarters in Kabul. The crash has been ruled an accident and not a result of insurgent activity.

Nato has not released the nationalities of the other victims or the five left injured, but the families of the British victims have been informed, the BBC adds.

The RAF personnel killed in the helicopter crash were from squadrons based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, the BBC reports.

Reports further add that the cause of the crash is still being investigated and that the aircraft was carrying some 10 people on board.

In other developments, a convoy of UK military vehicles was attacked in Kabul on Sunday morning, leaving some seven people injured, but no British casualties.

The UK’s Ministry of defence said an improvised explosive device caused Sunday’s explosion, while officials in Kabul said it was a suicide bombing. The Taliban claimed the attack and said it was in retaliation to air strikes in Kunduz which killed civilians and doctors.

British troops pulled out of Afghanistan a year ago after 13 years where 454 UK troops lost their lives. Nato's Resolute Support mission was launched after the combat mission ended and consists of more than 13,000 troops from 42 countries, including nearly 500 UK troops. Its aim is to train and support Afghan security forces and institutions.