Pentagon confirms jet crash in Afghanistan; denies Taliban shoot-down

The United States' military confirmed on Monday that its E-11A military aircraft had crashed in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province but, against  claims by Taliban insurgents that they shot it down, said there were “no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire.”

The Taliban had earlier claimed that US military personnel aboard the military plane, including high-ranking officials, had been killed in the crash.

The Pentagon stated: “A US Bombardier E-11A crashed today in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. While the cause of crash is under investigation, there are no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire.

We will provide additional information as it becomes available. Taliban claims that additional aircraft have crashed are false.”

“Taliban claims that additional aircraft have crashed are false,” a US military spokesman, Colonel Sonny Leggett, wrote on Twitter.

Soon after the news broke early Monday, Taliban leaders quickly took to social media to claim that an “enemy” aircraft went down but offered no detail of the possible cause.

“Enemy intelligence aircraft crashed in Sado Khelo area of Deh Yak district #Ghazni noon hours today resulting in all crew & high-ranking CIA members killed,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in a Twitter post.
“Wreckage & dead bodies laying at crash site,” he continued.

US Military officials have not commented on whether there were casualties.

“We don’t know the status of the crew,” Gen. Dave Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, told the Military Times on Monday.

Another video of #American aircraft shot dawned by #Taliban in #Ghazni #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/pYKHx2q3tI— Tariq Ghazniwal (@TGhazniwal) January 27, 2020

With agencies