A NATO helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing 31 U.S. forces and seven Afghan soldiers, in the worst single loss of life for U.S. forces in the nearly decade-long conflict, President Hamid Karzai's office said.
The Chinook helicopter went down overnight in Wardak Province just west of Kabul as it was taking personnel back to their base, the statement from President Karzai's office said.
Taliban has claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter.
A NATO spokesman confirmed the crash but gave no further details.
Last month, a coalition helicopter was shot down by insurgent fire in nearby province of Kunar.
