THE close proximity of a surveillance balloon to a football pitch in Afghanistan where an RAF helicopter crashed when trying to land contributed to the deaths of five people, a coroner has concluded.

Two RAF Benson flight lieutenants, Alan Scott and Gera Roberts, died after their Puma Mk 2 helicopter collided with the balloon’s tether and crashed near a NATO base in the Afghan capital Kabul on October, 11, 2015.

The servicemen, who lived in Benson and Reading respectively, were among five people killed, along with 44-year-old French-born security worker Gordon Emin and two US personnel. Five others were also injured.

An inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard the Puma aircraft, flying in formation behind another Puma, had to circle the helicopter landing site because there were people playing football on it.

In a narrative conclusion, Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said there had been a 'loss of situation awareness' and the second Puma struck the cable tethering the balloon, known as a persistent threat detection system.

This caused the tail rotor to fail and the Puma to crash to the ground.

The pilot, Flt Lt Scott, 32, died as a result of 'multiple injuries and a closed head injury'.

Crewman Flt Lt Roberts, 44, died as a result of a 'blunt force head injury'.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Scott’s wife Lisa said: “My Al was kind, intelligent, determined and conscientious and we know he could have done great things had his life not been cut so tragically and unfairly short.

“The only solace we have from this is that Al died doing what he loved, which is a claim that very few people can make.

“I remain fiercely proud of Al.”