Photo by Saifullah Maftoon
U.S. military officials confirmed that the remains of two U.S. service members were recovered at the the site of their MON 26 JAN 202 plane crash in Taliban-controlled Afghan territory.
U.S. officials further indicated that the bodies of the two service members were recovered approximately 24 hours after the time of their unfortunate deaths on TUES 27 JAN 2020, and that names of the fallen service members would be released 24 hours after the the Pentagon has successfully notified next of kin of the deceased members, in accordance with DoD casualty reporting protocols.
While the Taliban has released communications taking credit for the downing of the aircraft, U.S. officials have thus far not provided any indication that the crash was caused by enemy fire, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Pentagon officials have been thus far operating on the premise that the crash was caused by mechanical failure.