KABUL- A U.S. military aircraft crashed early Friday morning in Southern Afghanistan, killing three American service members and one civilian.
A NATO press release said the Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed near the city of Qalat in Zabul Province.
The Taliban claimed to have shot down the hybrid helicopter-airplane, but NATO officials said the cause of the crash is unknown and that an investigation is underway.
The Taliban regularly take responsibility anytime a coalition aircraft crashes, often after a NATO press release has been issued. In this case, the Taliban claimed responsibility long before NATO acknowledged the crash.
Helicopters are an important transportation tool for U.S. and coalitions forces due to the lack of roads and difficult terrain in Afghanistan. The Osprey is typically used for long-range infiltration and resupply missions for US Forces.