08/01/2004

Nine US soldiers killed in helicopter crash

Nine US soldiers have been killed after their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Iraq, it has been reported today.

It is not yet clear whether the crash was the result of a technical difficulty or gunfire. The crash claimed the lives of all those on board.

The aircraft came down this morning near Falluja, which has been a hotbed of insurgent activity in recent months.

Today's incident follows on from yesterday's death of a US soldier near Baghdad. He was killed and 34 others were injured during a mortar attack on a US military base.

The latest deaths brings to 346 the number of US military personnel killed in Iraq since the end of hostilies on May 1 2003.

(gmcg)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 January 2005
31 Marines killed in helicopter crash in Iraq
31 US Marines were reportedly killed in the early hours of this morning when their CH-53 Sea Stallion transport helicopter came down near Ar Rutbah in western Iraq.
18 May 2006
Ceremony held for Basra crash victims
A ceremony has been held to mark the repatriation of five military personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Basra earlier this month.
19 July 2004
British soldier dies in Basrah helicopter crash
A British soldier has died after an RAF helicopter crashed in southern Iraq today. The MoD confirmed that the soldier was killed in "an accident" involving an RAF Puma helicopter at Basrah International Airport. Two other British military personnel were injured during the incident.
22 November 2007
Iraq Helicopter Crash Kills Two
An RAF helicopter has gone down in Iraq, killing two UK military personnel and leaving two seriously injured. The RAF Puma helicopter crashed near Baghdad on Tuesday, but the Ministry of Defence said that while it was not believed to be the result of enemy fire, it was too early to speculate on the cause.
29 October 2007
Inquest Told ‘Blame Blair’
The death of a soldier killed in Iraq has been blamed on former PM, Tony Blair. The dead soldier’s mother said she held Blair personally responsible as the inquest into his death resumed. Fusilier Gordon Gentle, 19, was killed on patrol in Basra on June 28, 2004, and his mother Rose has blamed Army ‘neglect’ for his death.