SHARANA (PAN): A spy plane belonging to US forces went down in the southeastern province of Paktika Saturday night. Officials blamed the crash on a technical fault.

NATO said on Sunday the pilotless drone crashed in Yousufkhel district. A statement from the Western military alliance ruled out insurgents' hand in the incident, saying the aircraft's wreckage had been found.

A resident of the troubled district, Amir Khan, told Pajhwok Afghan News he heard a huge explosion caused by the predawn crash. "I saw a small aircraft go down in front of my house."

He added foreign troops arrived at the scene in the morning and took away the wreckage of the small plane.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said fighters shot down the plane in Jarkanai area. This is not the first time a foreign spy aircraft has gone down in the area. Such crashes have already occurred in Khost, Paktika and Paktia provinces.

ss/mud