WASHINGTON — Nine American troops died Tuesday in the worst helicopter crash for coalition forces in Afghanistan in over four years. Five of the Americans were Army Special Operations Forces, and four were Navy SEALS. Killed were:

Lt. (SEAL) Brendan J. Looney, 29, of Owings, Md., assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL Team.

Senior Chief Petty Officer David B. McLendon, 30, of Thomasville, Ga., assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith, 26, of Hurland, Mo., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.

Petty Officer 3rd Class (SEAL) Denis C. Miranda, 24, of Toms River, N.J., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.

Maj. Robert F. Baldwin, 39, of Muscatine, Iowa.

Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Wagstaff, 34, of Orem, Utah.

Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of St. Louis Park, Minn.

Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 25, of Pleasant Plains, Ill.

Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., 23, of Elkhart, Ind.

The Taliban claimed responsibilty for the crash shortly after it occured, but NATO and Pentagon officials have denied the helicopter took any enemy fire before going down.

The crash took place in the Daychopan district of Zabul province in southern Afghanistan.

It was the deadliest helicopter crash since May of 2006, when 10 Americans were killed in a Chinook during a nighttime landing attempt in Kunar province.