The US Navy SEALs suffered heavy loss when its Team 6 unit aboard a NATO helicopter crashed in Eastern Afghanistan early Saturday during a “quick reaction” mission to assist military personnel pinned down by insurgents in a fierce firefight.

31 U.S. troops, including 21 Navy SEALs and seven Afghan soldiers based in Hampton Roads died after their helicopter went down while they were reinforcing other troops.

Although majority of the Navy SEALs who died belonged to the same unit that conducted the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May, U.S. officials confirmed that none of them were part of the team that killed the Al Qaeda leader.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. President Barack Obama and others offered condolences.

Obama said earlier today that the untimely deaths of the U.S. troops were “a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military and their families, including all who have served in Afghanistan.”

Image courtesy of AP