Breaking News...7 killed as U.S. copter crashes in Afghanistan

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down Wednesday night in southern Afghanistan, killing all seven aboard, U.S. and NATO officials said.

Preliminary reports indicate the helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, officials said.

Five military crew and two military passengers were killed.

Additionally, NATO officials said the team that responded to the crash was ambushed, forcing them to call in an airstrike. NATO said one civilian was wounded during that attack, Reuters reported.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, calling himself a Taliban spokesman, told The Associated Press that militants had shot the helicopter down. The claim could not be verified.

The incident occurred at 9 p.m. (noon ET) in the Kajaki region of southern Helmand province, where Afghan and NATO forces are trying to neutralize Taliban guerrillas and complete an important hydroelectric project, Reuters reported.

The project, which includes the rebuilding of a dam, is expected to increase electric power and spur development in the region, according to Reuters.

CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report.