SA Pilots Killed in Kabul Blast

[Peter Pan]

I am shocked. Condolences to the families of the pilots involved. This is so far the only news I could find. Please do not try and speculate and name the pilots before their next of kin have been notified. I don't even know whether their was any SA pilots on board for sure.

By Al Arabiya with Agencies

Afghan insurgent group Hezb-e-Islami claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a minibus that killed 12 people, including 7 foreigners, near Kabul airport on Tuesday and said it was launched in retaliation for a film mocking the Prophet Mohammed.

“A woman wearing a suicide vest blew herself up in response to the anti-Islam video,” said Zubair Sediqqi, a spokesman for Hezb, which does not usually carry out such attacks, according to Reuters.

A senior police source said seven of those killed were foreigners working for an international courier company.

An Afghan official confirmed the death toll and said that two Afghan policemen were wounded. “The foreigners were from a private company working at the airport,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack took place on the eight-lane highway in front of a wedding hall, but at the time of the blast, sometime after 6:30 am (0200 GMT), the road would have been deserted.

Witnesses said there was smoke spewing into the sky and a heavy police deployment at the scene of the attack, contributing to a major traffic snarl-up on the busy road.

The attack underscored growing anger in Afghanistan over the film, which has enraged much of the Muslim world and led to the killing last week of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

Thousands of protesters clashed with police in the Afghan capital on Monday, burning cars and hurling rocks at security forces in the worst outbreak of violence since February rioting over the inadvertent burning of copies of the Quran by U.S. soldiers.

The suicide attack was the first in Kabul involving a woman and the foreigners killed were mostly Russian and South African pilots working for an international courier company, senior police sources said.

[EstianSwanepoel]

Condolences to friends and family of the crew.

[tbone]

Condolences to the families of our colleages and friends, may you rest in peace.

Tino

[fly1981]

Just spoke to mate of mine in Kabul, 2 SA pilots on the mini bus, both confirmed dead. Know them both very well. My sincere condolences go out to their families, they were both great guys and exceptional pilots. RIP.

[Nut Behind The Wheel]

Just received very sad news from a friend, it appears that there were SA support staff on that bus as well, my friend has lost her son in this horrible event. Very very sad, condolences to all. R.I.P.

[Darrell Lush]

Very very sad, tragic and unbelievable. My thoughts are with those left behind.

RIP...

[Snoopy]

Condolences to all whom have lost friends and family. R.I.P.

[flyinghigher]

PLEASE REMOVE THIS POST IMMEDIATELY, THEIR FAMILES DONT KNOW YET THERE ARE MANY INVOLVED, YOU CAN POST IT ALL TOMORROW OK.
how do you even get hold of a person at AVCOM???????????????????

[Darrell Lush]

PLEASE REMOVE THIS POST IMMEDIATELY, THEIR FAMILES DONT KNOW YET THERE ARE MANY INVOLVED, YOU CAN POST IT ALL TOMORROW OK.
how do you even get hold of a person at AVCOM???????????????????

Its all over the news already....I'm sure that names will be witheld until NOK are notified...

[fly1981]

PLEASE REMOVE THIS POST IMMEDIATELY, THEIR FAMILES DONT KNOW YET THERE ARE MANY INVOLVED, YOU CAN POST IT ALL TOMORROW OK.
how do you even get hold of a person at AVCOM???????????????????

You could report the post if you feel it necessary.

[MilesvdM]

What a terrible tragedy. Heart felt condolences to friends and families of those that lost thier lives this morning in this brutal and senseless attack.

To all at working in Kabul, you are in our thoughts. Sterkte.

[Ray W]

Heard about this on the radio news this morning - terrible - my condolences to all the families and friends.

[Dan]

RIP,they need to be nuked,,

[macdaddy]

Very very sad! My thoughts go out to all the family and friends of everyone involved! May you rest in peace!

[Patricia Nementzik]

My heart is broken for all the families and friends of these crew. Very close to home as Avron did Kabul contract flying for some time, and have friends who still do.