The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the crash of an American military aircraft on Monday in Afghanistan. According to the radical Islamist movement, all passengers were killed.

The small aircraft of the US Air Force crashed shortly after 1 pm local time in Ghazni province, in eastern Afghanistan. According to the Taliban, it was on a spy mission.

US government authorities confirm to Reuters news agency that the aircraft, presumably a Bombardier E-11A, belonged to the US military.

This type of aircraft is used for electronic surveillance by the US Air Force in Afghanistan, reports the American magazine Military Times.

The Pentagon says it will not respond to the crash for the time being. The American troops in the capital Kabul are also not making any comments for the time being.

According to the Military Times, the American army has started an investigation.