KABUL, Afghanistan — An emergency landing by a helicopter ferrying foreign engineers in eastern Afghanistan turned into a mass abduction by the Taliban, officials said Monday, offering a stark reminder of the insurgents’ continuing hold on significant parts of the countryside.
The aircraft was forced down late Sunday because of a storm, according to the Afghan transport company that operated it, and it had to land in Azra District, a mountainous area of Logar Province that is almost entirely controlled by the Taliban.
In all, 11 people were abducted, according to reports from the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Afghan government officials. They were eight Turkish engineers, one Afghan man and the two pilots of the Russian-made helicopter. One pilot was confirmed to be Russian. The other was either Russian or from Central Asia; there were conflicting reports of his nationality.
The aircraft was forced down late Sunday because of a storm, according to the Afghan transport company that operated it, and it had to land in Azra District, a mountainous area of Logar Province that is almost entirely controlled by the Taliban.
In all, 11 people were abducted, according to reports from the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Afghan government officials. They were eight Turkish engineers, one Afghan man and the two pilots of the Russian-made helicopter. One pilot was confirmed to be Russian. The other was either Russian or from Central Asia; there were conflicting reports of his nationality.
