Apache Crash Video Gets Laughs Online - But Helicopter Risks Are Deadly Serious By _Sydney J. Freedberg Jr._ (http://defense.aol.com/bloggers/sydney-j-freedberg-jr/) March 23, 2012 _http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/23/apache-crash-video-goes-viral-but-helicop ters-remain-critical/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%2 6pLid%3D146336_ (http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/23/apache-crash-video-goes-viral-but-helicopters-remain-critical/?icid=maing-grid10|htmlws-main-bb|dl1|s ec1_lnk3&pLid=146336) Watch the video: _http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BcTDwJcO_os_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BcTDwJcO_os) A _YouTube video_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BcTDwJcO_os) of an American _AH-64 Apache attack helicopter_ (http://defense.aol.com/2011/10/10/the-monster-is-here-or-how-the-taliban-gave-apache-a-ne w-name/) crashing in Afghanistan has _gone viral_ (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/helicopter-crash-afghanistan-) , with _commentators expert and otherwise chiming in_ (http://www.military.com/video/military-aircraft-operations/crash-landings/insane-apache-) on the pilot's mistakes and appropriate punishments. The International Security Assistance Force told the Pentagon-supported newspaper Stars and Stripes that they "_believe the video shows a crash which occurred in Paktika province on Feb. 6_ (http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/afghanistan-helicopte r-crash-video-appears-real-1.172300) " and which is now under investigation, but ISAF has been otherwise unforthcoming. The video shows the gunship swooping low over a U.S. outpost, then coming round for another pass that takes it too low, bouncing over the snowy ground and ultimately flipping over. Online speculation is rife that the pilot was showing off rather than conducting legitimate training maneuvers, and it seems unlikely any commander would authorize such dangerously low passes over friendly troops outside of a life-or-death combat situation, but hard facts are hard to find.
This story has been largely played for laughs because – miraculously – no one died, but aircraft crashes are the _single largest cause of accidental death for U.S. forces in Afghanistan_ (http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/gwot_reason.pdf) , with 110 reported non-combat deaths in aircraft crashes. Another 58 troops have died in aircraft, mostly helicopters, that went down in combat – whether from enemy fire or their own desperate maneuvers – which ranks second only to guns and bombs among the causes of death ascribed to hostile action. 16 ISAF troops died in a single crash _just last week_ (http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/helicopter-crashes-in-eastern-afghanistan-3.html) . The danger has pushed the Pentagon to make major _investments in safety features to combat desert dust_ (http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/09/army-seeks-brownout-fixes-for-helo-pilots-afghan-tests -loom/) , high mountains, and terrible weather. It's not as if U.S. chopper pilots are going to stop flying their helicopters hard any time soon, however. With units widely dispersed over difficult terrain, Afghanistan is a war zone where _air support_ (http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-afghanistan-air-war-20100925) is often the only support available for troops under fire. And with _helicopters critical to high-profile operations like the SEAL strike that killed Osama bin Laden_ (http://defense.aol.com/2011/07/07/they-just-got-osama-so-put-your-money-where -the-rotors-are/) , their role may become even more prominent as the U.S. shifts from a time-consuming, troop-intensive counterinsurgency strategy to one of in-and-out counterterrorist raids. Even in this year's cramped budgets, the _U.S. Army made sure to keep investing in aviation_ (http://defense.aol.com/2012/02/13/army-2013-budget-magically-drops-50-thou-soldiers-aviatio n-thri/) . And until the day when all _helicopters are unmanned_ (http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/01/navy-drops-helo-drone-fire-scout-could-fill-some-mi ssions/) , every flight runs some risk of loss of life. ================================================================= Peace NO War Network War is NOT the Answer! _http://www.PeaceNOWar.net_ (http://www.peacenowar.net/) National Immigrant Solidarity Network _http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org_ (http://www.immigrantsolidarity.org/) Action LA Network _http://www.ActionLA.org_ (http://www.actionla.org/) Peace NO War Network _http://www.PeaceNOWar.net_ (http://www.peacenowar.net/) Activist Video Service _http://www.ActivistVideo.org_ (http://www.activistvideo.org/) New York: (212)330-8172 Los Angeles: (213)403-0131 Washington D.C.: (202)595-8990 Chicago: (773)942-2268 Please join the Peace NO War news litserv, send e-mail to: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Please consider making a donation to the important work of Peace NO War Network, Action LA Network, National Immigrant Solidarity Network Send check pay to: Action LA Network/AFGJ Action LA Network P.O. Box 751 South Pasadena, CA 91031-0751 (All donations are tax deductible) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
