US plane crashes in Jalalabad kills 11

A US C-130 transport plane has crashed at Jalalabad airport in Afghanistan, shortly after midnight on Friday morning killing six crew members and five civilian contractors, a US military spokesman said.

Jalalabad City is close to the eastern border with Pakistan, an area prone to Taliban attacks.

A statement from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield described it as “an accident,” without offering details.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for bringing down the plane about nine hours after it crashed.

“Our mujahideen have shot down a four-engine US aircraft in Jalalabad,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, in a message posted on Twitter. “Based on credible information 15 invading forces and a number of puppet troops were killed.”

However, The US has denied Taliban claims they shot down an American cargo plane in eastern Afghanistan.

“With high confidence, it does not appear at this time that enemy fire was involved in the aircraft crash. We have first responders on scene working at the crash site doing recovery operations. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident,” said Maj Tony Wickman of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram.

The crash came hours after Afghan troops recaptured the center of the strategic northern city of Kunduz on Thursday amid fierce clashes with Taliban militants, three days after losing the provincial capital.