Kabul victims 'were sitting ducks'

2012-09-19 08:24

Afghanistan police and officials investigate the site of a suicide attack in Kabul. (Massoud Hossaini, AFP)

Johannesburg - A Johannesburg helicopter pilot who quit a job in Kabul recently out of fear for his safety, has spoken about the dangers of working in Afghanistan.

Eight South Africans, who were working for a private aviation company, were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul on Tuesday.

"They were sitting ducks," pilot Clint Buckman told The New Age newspaper.

He quit a similar job in Kabul "after a week" because he realised it was "too dangerous".

But the job paid well, he said.

"The guys earn at least $850 (about R7 000) a day up there, but life is cheap and it is too dangerous to work there...

"We have to fly 500 feet above the ground while the American gunships cruise at the safe level of 5 000 feet," said Buckman.

The helicopter pilots, engineers and operations personnel were ferried to and from the airport and were "sitting ducks for attacks", he said.

"These pilots fly charter choppers with supplies, logistics and emergency supplies for various contractors in Afghanistan."

- SAPA