3 Aircraft Mechanics Died 'Protecting Their Fellow Americans'

The Americans killed in a shooting at the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, were three contractors working for Praetorian Standard, the company said today.

The three employees, all aircraft mechanics, were killed "while supporting the efforts of the U.S. Government," Praetorian Standard said.

They were identified asWalter Fisher of North Myrtle Beach,South Carolina; JasonLandphair of Fayetteville, NorthCarolina; and MathewFineran ofSummerville, SouthCarolina.

"These brave men died protecting their fellow Americans," Praetorian Standard Executive Director Richard Davis said in a statement. "They are heroes, andwe are deeplysaddened bytheir tragic deaths."

Another man, Bradley James of Atlanta, Georgia, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Praetorian Standard reported.

The shooter was wearing the uniform of an Afghan national policeman, but it was unclear whether he was actually a member of the Afghan security forces, a U.S. official said.

The shootings were on the civilian side of the airport, the official said.

The incident is under investigation, the official said. It is also unclear whether the Afghan listed as a fatality is someone other than the shooter who was shot dead by the security team at the airport.