U.S. chopper pilot: Afghanistan can grab you
Flying helicopters in Afghanistan is an extremely dangerous job. On Monday, in the east, a Chinook was forced to make a hard landing, though no one was hurt. CBS News correspondent Seth Doane joined a medevac team on board a Black Hawk helicopter in southern Afghanistan.
From the air, Afghanistan's rugged terrain is simple and striking. But the view from a helicopter's flight deck is anything but peaceful.
Chief warrant officer Zack Martin and his co-pilot Capt. Chris Morisoli are part of the U.S. Army's "Task Force Thunder" medevac unit. CBS News joined them on a medical mission on Black Hawk helicopters in Kandahar.
"What specific dangers do you have in the air?" Doane asked Martin.
"Just any kind of surface-to-air fire from the enemy, whether it be RPGs, machine guns, small arms fire -- things like that. Anything that they can do to take us out of the sky would be our biggest threat."
"You guys have been shot at before?
"Yup, yup," said Martin.
Doane asked Morisoli to compare Afghanistan to other places he has flown to.
"Busy," he replied. "It's busy, it's hot, it's harsh and you've just got to keep your head about you at all times -- because if you do get complacent and lazy, it can grab you."
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This afternoon, the medevac team airlifted two Afghans who were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.
"How common is it for you to pick up Afghans?" asked Doane.
"Very common," said Morisoli. "We do, of course, all U.S. [and] coalition forces, enemy persons of war, Afghan local nationals, Afghan national army. So, basically anyone in the country who needs medical evacuation."
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While the priority is stablizing patients, this weekend's Chinook helicopter incident is adding a new focus.
"A crash like the Chinook crash raises your awareness?" Doane asked Martin.
"Yes."
"How so?"
"Well, we've been here for six months," Martin responded, "and you just kind of get in your rhythm. It just makes you more aware. It's like, 'Wow, people are still dying here every day.'"
Missions continue, of course, across Afghanistan and the troops here tell us that something like the Chinook incident only serves of a reminder of what's at stake -- and of the work still ahead.
