Three police force members, including an officer, were killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in southern province of Helmand on Wednesday evening, the head of provincial council Attaullah Afghan said.

The incident happened when the helicopter took off from Gereshk district and crash landed in Nahre Siraj district in the province due to technical issue, he said.

Mohamamd Wali Haqmal, an officer who was on board, wanted to go observe his leave and return to his home in Lashkargah, but he lost his life in the incident, according to sources.

“Seven other security force members were wounded in the incident,” two sources said.

Ministry of Defense (MoD) in a statement on Thursday, referring to downed Black Hawk, said "all reports so far indicate the helicopter was not shot down, despite Taliban claims." 

The statement confirmed three security force members--two national police and one ANA soldier--were killed.

The MoD initially reported there were no casualties.