U.S. Helicopter Shot Falling Due to Taliban

Puli Alam, Afghanistan (Reuters / AFP) - A U.S. helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan killing 38 people including 31 U.S. special forces personnel shot down by the Taliban, an Afghan provincial official said Saturday.

"The U.S. helicopter was shot down Friday night by the Taliban while on takeoff. A rocket fired by militants hit the aircraft and completely destroyed," said Shahid Shahidullah, a spokesman for the province of Wardak, where the fall of the helicopter.

He added the helicopter was shattered.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which occurred Friday night in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul.

The death toll was the largest in a single incident of foreign troops since the war began in late 2001