Media Room: Media Releases

MSPA 244/09                                                                              Tuesday, 04 August 2009                                                     

AUSTRALIAN CHINOOK RECEIVES SMALL ARMS

FIRE IN AFGHANISTAN

During routine air operation tasks, an Australian Army CH-47D Chinook aircraft and a US helicopter came under small arms fire mid-morning on Monday, 3 August 2009.

The Australian Chinook aircraft was operating in Southern Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force. It made a controlled landing at a Coalition airfield as a result of the small arms fire.

The aircraft landed safely and a maintenance inspection of the aircraft is ongoing.

There were no casualties as a result of this incident and the aircraft did not sustain structural damage.

Media Contacts:

Defence Media Liaison:                                    02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664