2011 Chinook shootdown in Afghanistan

2011 U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook shootdown

A Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Bagram, Afghanistan, similar to the one that was shot down.
Attack summary
Date	6 August 2011
Summary	Brought down by Rocket-propelled grenade attack
Passengers	33
Crew	5
Fatalities	38 plus one U.S. military working dog
Survivors	0
Aircraft type	Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Operator	U.S. military

On 6 August 2011, a U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook military helicopter was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board—25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter—as well as a U.S. military working dog. It is considered the worst loss of American lives in a single incident in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wings in 2005.

In March 2009, U.S. forces (10th Mountain Division) established a base in Tangi Valley after it was noticed that Taliban fighters were exploiting the coalition forces' small presence in the area. U.S., French and Afghan National Police forces carried out a three-day sweep of the area after which the area was deemed secure. In April 2011, due to a decrease in troop levels U.S. forces abandoned the base (Command Outpost Tangi) and turned over control of the base to Afghan forces. However, Afghan forces never assumed control of the base which was seized by the Taliban shortly after the departure of U.S. forces.

U.S. forces continued to carry-out operations in the area (mostly via helicopter/special forces) encountering resistance from Taliban fighters on several occasions. For example, on 8 June 2011 a CH-47D was engaged from five to six locations (i.e., points of origin) which fired 14 RPG rounds at the helicopter forcing the crew to abort the mission.

After US intelligence services revealed a possible location of a senior Taliban leader by the name Qari Tahir in Tangi Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, a mission to apprehend or neutralize him was launched on the night of 5/6 August 2011 from the forward operating base in Logar Province. It was led by a platoon of 47 U.S. Army Rangers with a troop of 17 U.S. Navy SEALs kept in reserve in case of need. The Ranger platoon was transported to the area via two CH-47D transport helicopters (one of them was the accident helicopter) and supported by two AH-64 Apache helicopters and an AC-130 gunship as well as additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft (ISR). The mission was deemed high risk.