Cargo Plane Crashes into Mountains in Afghanistan

A Russian cargo plane crashed into mountains in eastern Afghanistan overnight, senior officials said Wednesday, giving no indication of possible casualties on board.

Transport and interior ministry officials said the plane was chartered by NATO's International Security Assistance Force on Tuesday but a spokesman for the military said it was not yet clear who had been running the flight.

"A cargo plane crashed in the Siagird area of Ghorband district of Parwan province last night. The plane was a Russian IL-76 cargo plane chartered by ISAF," a senior interior ministry official told Agence France Presse.

He said initial reports indicated that the plane had eight crew members but investigations were ongoing.

Transport ministry spokesman Nangyalai Qalatwal confirmed the crash in the Shakar Dara Mountains and said the plane was chartered by the military.