Investigation Summary
The mission was launched to intercept a senior Taliban leader, Qari Tahir, who was believed to be in the Tangi Valley. Earlier that night, U.S. Army Rangers had been inserted by two other Chinooks. When intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft spotted a group of insurgents fleeing the target compound, a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was dispatched to intercept them. The manifest for Extortion 17 consisted of 38 souls: 30 U.S. military personnel (including 25 special operators and a 5-man U.S. Army crew), 7 Afghan National Army commandos, and 1 civilian interpreter. To expedite the insertion, the entire team was loaded onto a single CH-47D, while a second Chinook (Extortion 16) acted as a decoy. As Extortion 17 approached the new landing zone from the northwest at approximately 150 feet, it was engaged by a group of insurgents not previously identified by overwatch aircraft. Two to three RPGs were fired; the second round impacted one of the three aft rotor blades, destroying the rotor assembly and causing the aircraft to plummet to the ground in less than five seconds.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) concluded that the operational decisions were tactically sound and that the shootdown was the result of a 'lucky shot' by a Taliban fighter. The investigation found no evidence of a leak or an ambush, noting that the insurgents were likely already in position due to the ongoing Ranger operation nearby. The lack of flight recorders (CVR/FDR) on the CH-47D model, combined with a flash flood that occurred shortly after the crash, complicated the initial recovery of evidence, though the cause was clearly identified through witness accounts from supporting Apache helicopters and wreckage analysis.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Aft Rotor Assembly
The rear rotor system of the Chinook; the RPG strike destroyed one of the three blades, causing immediate catastrophic mechanical failure.
RPG-7
The weapon used by Taliban insurgents to down the aircraft; a shoulder-fired, unguided anti-tank rocket launcher.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash resulted in the deaths of 15 members of the Gold Squadron, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).
- 02The CH-47D model involved did not carry a Cockpit Voice Recorder or Flight Data Recorder.
- 03A flash flood occurred in the afternoon of August 6, washing away portions of the wreckage.
- 04The insurgent responsible for the shootdown was killed on the night of August 8, 2011, in a strike involving an F-16 dropping four GBU-54 munitions, followed by AC-130 and AH-64 fire.
- 05The aircraft was flying without external lighting and was one minute from the landing zone when hit.
- 06The primary mission target, Taliban leader Qari Tahir, was not killed in the initial strike but was later killed in an airstrike on September 21, 2011.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Tactical Review
Source ↗CENTCOM conducted a formal investigation (AR 15-6) which reviewed the tactical soundness of using a single transport for a large QRF and the selection of landing zones.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Allegations of Information Leaks
Reference ↗Families of the fallen and some members of Congress questioned if Afghan forces leaked the mission details to the Taliban, though the official DOD investigation found no evidence of a security breach.
AC-130 Rules of Engagement
Reference ↗Air Force Captain Joni Marquez, who was aboard an AC-130 gunship providing overwatch, claimed that the rules of engagement prevented the crew from firing on the insurgents who eventually shot down the helicopter, despite observing them in a tactical position.