Time Out
16th Nov 2003, 05:03
Last Update: Sunday, November 16, 2003. 6:19am (AEDT)
At least 12 soldiers from the US-led force in Iraq have been killed in a mid-air crash between two Black Hawk helicopters.
US military officials say another nine soldiers were injured when the two choppers came down in a residential area of the northern city of Mosul.
The spokesman said there was no immediate information on the cause of the crash, which involved two helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division.
There was also no word of any Iraqi casualties on the ground.
US troops immediately moved in to cordon off the area where fire engines and ambulances had converged.
There has been no official comment on the cause of the crash, but an American officer on the scene says one of the helicopters was hit by a rocket propelled grenade from the ground.
Three US helicopters have been shot down in Iraq in the past three weeks, with the loss of 22 lives.
Source - ABC Online (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s989991.htm)
Also Middle East Online: (http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=7815)
Twelve soldiers killed in two US helicopter crashes in Iraq
Witnesses say missile fired at helicopters during ambush on US patrol soldiers.
MOSUL, Iraq - Twelve coalition soldiers were killed and nine wounded when two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Saturday, the US military said.
"There are 12 coalition soldiers killed and nine wounded," a spokesman said.
Two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed Saturday west of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a US military spokesman said.
"Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed west of Mosul at 6:30 pm (1430 GMT)," he said.
"The site is being secured by soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, and Iraqi police and fire fighters are on the scene.
"The cause of the crash is currently unknown and under investigation," the spokesman said.
An AFP correspondent saw one US chopper in flames in the area, which was immediately cordoned off by American troops as helicopters hovered overhead.
Several witnesses said they saw wounded people taken away in ambulances, but were unable to say if they included US soldiers.
An Iraqi police officer said that he saw assailants ambushing a US foot patrol in the area, prompting the intervention of a Blackhawk helicopter.
A missile was then fired towards the chopper, which crashed into a second Blackhawk as it tried to dodge the missile, he said.
Another witness said that one helicopter was on fire before it hit the other one.
At least 12 soldiers from the US-led force in Iraq have been killed in a mid-air crash between two Black Hawk helicopters.
US military officials say another nine soldiers were injured when the two choppers came down in a residential area of the northern city of Mosul.
The spokesman said there was no immediate information on the cause of the crash, which involved two helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division.
There was also no word of any Iraqi casualties on the ground.
US troops immediately moved in to cordon off the area where fire engines and ambulances had converged.
There has been no official comment on the cause of the crash, but an American officer on the scene says one of the helicopters was hit by a rocket propelled grenade from the ground.
Three US helicopters have been shot down in Iraq in the past three weeks, with the loss of 22 lives.
Source - ABC Online (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s989991.htm)
Also Middle East Online: (http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=7815)
Twelve soldiers killed in two US helicopter crashes in Iraq
Witnesses say missile fired at helicopters during ambush on US patrol soldiers.
MOSUL, Iraq - Twelve coalition soldiers were killed and nine wounded when two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Saturday, the US military said.
"There are 12 coalition soldiers killed and nine wounded," a spokesman said.
Two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed Saturday west of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a US military spokesman said.
"Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed west of Mosul at 6:30 pm (1430 GMT)," he said.
"The site is being secured by soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, and Iraqi police and fire fighters are on the scene.
"The cause of the crash is currently unknown and under investigation," the spokesman said.
An AFP correspondent saw one US chopper in flames in the area, which was immediately cordoned off by American troops as helicopters hovered overhead.
Several witnesses said they saw wounded people taken away in ambulances, but were unable to say if they included US soldiers.
An Iraqi police officer said that he saw assailants ambushing a US foot patrol in the area, prompting the intervention of a Blackhawk helicopter.
A missile was then fired towards the chopper, which crashed into a second Blackhawk as it tried to dodge the missile, he said.
Another witness said that one helicopter was on fire before it hit the other one.