Helicopter Crash Rescue Bid Persists Despite Obstacles

KABUL, Afghanistan —  Military clashes, bad weather and rough terrain were hindering efforts to reach the site where an American Chinook helicopter carrying 17 troops crashed after coming under hostile fire, officials said today.

Everyone was feared dead aboard the MH-47 helicopter, which crashed in the mountains and then slipped into a deep ravine after it was attacked Tuesday with rocket-propelled grenades near Asadabad in the eastern province of Kunar, Afghan government officials said.

Asked about the likelihood of U.S. casualties at a hearing in Washington, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said, “Our hearts go out to their families.” Those on board included Navy SEALs and Army Special Operations troops.

“There is still fighting going on in the area and that is another reason that Afghan and U.S. forces cannot openly search for the fallen plane,” said Asadullah Wafa, the governor of Kunar province.

Wafa said Al Qaeda militants, in teams of 12 to 15, are known to launch attacks in the deep mountain ravines of Kunar.

“Up until now they have been small attacks of mines or explosives on the ground,” Wafa said. “Now they are stepping up their efforts.”

The helicopter was ferrying reinforcements for U.S. forces fighting “to defeat Al Qaeda militants and deny them influence in Kunar province,” said a military statement Wednesday.

“As it was approaching its landing zone, it took on indirect fire and small-arms fire from the enemy in the area,” Col. James Yonts, a military spokesman, told reporters in Kabul, the capital. “Whether or not that caused it to crash we do not know yet.”

Kunar province, which shares a 217-mile border with Pakistan, has been battling insurgent and rebel activity since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

“Our border with Pakistan is our biggest problem. Until we have tough border patrols we will continue to have violence in Kunar,” Wafa said.

News of the copter crash clouded a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday for Pace, whom President Bush has nominated to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pace referred to “the tragedy of yesterday, and what appears to be a shoot-down of one of our special operations helicopters that included some very, very special folks who were on a mission for this country.”

The loss of the helicopter follows three months of intensified fighting that has killed more than 450 suspected insurgents, almost 50 Afghan police and soldiers, and 29 U.S. troops.

The crash was the second of a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan this year.

Fifteen U.S. service members and three American civilians were killed in April when their chopper went down in a sandstorm while returning to the main U.S. base at Bagram.

Times staff writer John Hendren in Washington contributed to this report.