The incident took place at about 11:00 a.m. local time [6:00 GMT] on Thursday, a source in the army told Afghanistan's Pajhwok Afghan News agency.

Reinforcements have been deployed to the area, the source said.

According to media estimates, some 17 people, including five soldiers, were on board the helicopter, all of whom are believed to have been killed in the crash, Sputnik reported.

The cause of the incident is now being investigated.