U.S.-led coalition helicopter crashes in southeastern Afghanistan

A U.S.-led coalition helicopter crashed Sunday in southeastern Afghanistan after reporting engine failure, officials said.

"It was not enemy-fire related," said Col. Tom Collins, spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force. "The pilot was able to radio in that he was having engine problems. We're confident it was not due to enemy action."

The coalition has launched a search and rescue operation for the helicopter and its occupants, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. David Accetta.

"For the safety of the people on board, we will not release the number of people on board until rescue operations are complete," Accetta said. "Rescue operations are under way."

Accetta also declined to give details about the model of the helicopter and the location of the crash, the AP reports.

The mountainous region of southeastern Afghanistan is under the command of U.S.-led forces.