Britain on Sunday revealed the names of five troops killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, shortly after launching an investigation into the incident

Britain on Sunday revealed the names of five troops killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, shortly after launching an investigation into the incident.
  
The Lynx helicopter crashed during a routine flight in Kandahar province on Saturday, causing the third biggest single loss of life for British troops in the country.
  
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) named the dead men as captain Thomas Clarke, flight lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan, warrant officer Spencer Faulkner, corporal James Walters and lance corporal Oliver Thomas.
  
The ministry denied claims from Taliban that they shot down the light utility helicopter, saying its initial investigations pointed towards a technical fault during the routine flight.
  
"The investigation is now under way, and the area of the crash has been cordoned off," an MoD spokeswoman said. "We cannot go into further details. At this stage it is not known how long the investigation might last or when investigators will deliver their report, but it will be a thorough inquiry."

Prime Minister David Cameron described the deaths as a "terrible tragedy".

The Taliban said on a recognized Twitter account that it had targeted the helicopter and the "wreckage caught fire as it smashed onto the ground, killing all invaders onboard".