A military helicopter of U.S.-led Coalition forces made a hard landing in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province Saturday, killing one soldier aboard, a statement of the alliance received here Sunday said.

"One service member was killed when a Coalition CH-47 helicopter, supporting an ISAF mission, conducted a hard landing in eastern Afghanistan," the statement added.

Seven personnel were aboard the chopper, it added.

Though the cause of the landing is currently undetermined, small arms fire was present at the time of the incident, the statement further added.

Meantime, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility and in talks with media outlets from unknown location Sunday said that Taliban fighters shot down the chopper in Manogai district of Kunar province.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2009)