All 16 U.S. service members killed aboard helicopter in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — All 16 U.S. troops who were aboard a helicopter downed in Afghanistan were killed, military officials said Thursday.

"At this point, we have recovered all 16 bodies of those service men who were onboard the MH-47 helicopter that crashed on Tuesday," Lt. Gen. James Conway, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon.

Officials had said earlier that militants apparently had shot down the helicopter as it was bringing in reinforcements for a battle with suspected al-Qaida fighters in a rugged ravine in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province.

Conway said it appeared an unguided rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter. He called it "a pretty lucky shot against a helicopter."

He said it appeared the troops on board died in the crash, not afterward in an engagement with enemy forces on the ground.

Conway said the recovery operation was still under way.

"Positive identification and family notification are under way and expected to be completed soon," he said.

One military official put the breakdown at eight Navy SEALs and eight Army air crew from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Two officials said a 17th person was listed on the helicopter's manifest, but it is now believed that person did not board the flight.