DHAKA: An investigation was under way on Sunday to find out why a British military helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing five troops.

The Lynx helicopter crashed during a routine flight in Kandahar province on Saturday, causing the third biggest single loss of life for British troops in the country.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence denied claims from Taliban insurgents that they shot down the light utility helicopter, saying its initial investigations pointed towards a technical fault during the routine flight.

‘The investigation is now under way, and the area of the crash has been cordoned off,’ a MoD spokesman said, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2024 HRS, APR 27, 2014