19 survive as Chinook is downed; HELICOPTER.Byline: CHRIS HUGHES NINETEEN British servicemen miraculously mi·rac·u·lous adj. 1. Of the nature of a miracle; preternatural. 2. So astounding as to suggest a miracle; phenomenal: a miraculous recovery; a miraculous escape. 3. escaped unhurt when their helicopter crashed on the Afghan front line yesterday. The pounds 10million Chinook Chinook, indigenous people of North America Chinook (shĭn  k`, chĭ–), Native American tribe of the Penutian linguistic stock. smashed into the ground just after
midnight, damaging its undercarriage, nose and front rotor rotor: see generator; motor, electric. . Mechanical
failure is being blamed for forcing the helicopter down during the
operation east of Sangin in Helmand.
The hero pilot is believed to have forced the twin-rotor Chinook to one side to break off the deadly blades so the crew and heavily armed troops could escape. The 15 soldiers from 2 Rifles went on to carry out the security patrol near Sangin while the four crew were picked up by another of the three Chinooks on the operation. Engineers blew up the stricken 12-ton helicopter to stop it getting into enemy hands. It is the second time that British forces have lost a Chinook in Helmand in two weeks after the Taliban shot one down near Sangin 12 days ago. The crew survived but the craft was destroyed as it could not be recovered. |
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