KABUL, Jan 29: Fourteen US soldiers were injured when their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on Monday night.

US Central Command said 14 soldiers were taken to hospital after their helicopter made a “hard landing” near the eastern Afghan city of Khost.

Eyewitnesses said they saw fire and heard explosions from the crash, which occurred around one kilometre east of Khost airport.

The command said four of the troops received serious but not life-threatening injuries in the crash, the third of a US aircraft in the Afghan campaign this month.

Ten others received minor injuries, the command said, adding that 24 people had been aboard the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which it said sustained heavy damage and was not recovered. The wounded were taken from the scene and received immediate medical care at a nearby hospital, Central Command said.—AFP