The final flight of Extortion 17

Four years ago, Extortion 17 was shot down while attempting to insert a quick reaction force in Afghanistan. It was the deadliest crash in the war, and for SOCOM. This is a great writeup about that terrible day.

Extortion 16 and 17 had already inserted a force into Juy Zarin, hunting for Qari Tahir and his fighters. Both aircraft returned to the FOB to wait to remove wounded, fly reinforcements in, or whatever else was needed.

Both aircraft were standard CH-47Ds, and Extortion 17 was flown by National Guard pilots, not MH-47s flown by 160th SOAR. The pilot of 17 was one of the most experienced in the military, and an instructor in Colorado, teaching pilots high altitude operations in CH-47s.

When the decision was made to send the IRF, they were going to a different LZ, that could only accommodate one aircraft at a time. The commander of the mission decided to load the entire force on Extortion 17, with 16 flying empty as escort.

Upon arriving at the LZ, Rangers on the ground reported the area was clear, so 17 slowed to land. During this time, a group of fighters exited a nearby building and fired 2 RPGs. One missed, the other hit the aft rotor, severing 10 feet of blade. This unbalanced the rotor, tearing the entire assembly off the aircraft. The forward rotor failed, as a result of overloading. Extortion 17 tumbled into a ravine and exploded on impact, killing all 38 on board.

www.airspacemag.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Hey zap, I wrote a thread on this flight about a year or so ago when everyone was trying to say that it was the guys from Neptune Spear who were "assassinated".

I think if i do recall however some of the family members are still seeking answers.

a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin

This is the most detailed writeup I've seen so far. It gave a few details I hadn't heard before. I don't blame them. It's entirely possible that they could have gotten at least two of the shooters, but the ROE kept them from shooting.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Like a Vietnam stryle engagement failure due to ROE policies...
Micro managing war at it's best with politics.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

And one more example that we've forgotten everything we learned from Vietnam.

No infantry to send?They had to send Seals?Why CH47`s?They couldn't land a click away and hump it?No Apaches?



The whole thing never made sense to me.

a reply to: Sunwolf

There was a lot of cover, including Apache and AC-130 gunships. They weren't allowed to shoot without clear hostile intent under the Rules Of Engagement. An Apache killed six of eight Taliban that fled, but when two went into the woods, instead of leveling them with the AC, they had to cease fire and back off.

a reply to: Zaphod58

THUS allowing said squad to regroup and fire.

Video about Callsign Extortion 17. Remembering the 17 members of seal team 6 who lost their lives and covered up.