WASHINGTON >> Six U.S. service members were killed today when a helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, U.S. and NATO officials said.

One person on board the Black Hawk UH-60 was injured and survived, two U.S. defense officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. The aircraft was an Army helicopter from an Army unit, but officials have not yet confirmed the identities nor the service branches of the individuals, a third official said.

Neither the Hawaii Army National Guard nor the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks has any Black Hawk helicopters in Afghanistan, officials said. Army officials in Hawaii also said no information had been received today indicating there were any Hawaii-related casualties in the crash of the Black Hawk.

The Hawaii Army National Guard does have bigger CH-47 Chinook helicopters deployed to Afghanistan. The unit left Hawaii in June for training and then duty in Afghanistan. 

The NATO international military coalition issued a statement saying the crash was under investigation and that there was no insurgent activity in the area at the time of the crash.

In Washington, an official originally said the helicopter had experienced engine failure before the crash, but later said that it was unclear whether that was the case. According to initial reports, the troops had mechanical problems, came under fire after the crash and it was unclear whether any of the casualties were the result of enemy fire.

The deputy governor of southern Zabul province, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, said a NATO helicopter crashed in the remote district of Shajau and U.S. officials later confirmed that Zabul was the location of the U.S. crash.

This year, 109 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan, out of a total of 139 members of the coalition.

The death toll has dropped significantly since the coalition handed over responsibility for security to Afghan forces last summer and coalition troops are now training and assisting.

By comparison, 394 foreign troops died last year, including 297 Americans.