Read brief report that a C5A Galaxy has been hit by a shoulder-mounted missile. Aircraft managed to return safely to Baghdad.
63 US personnel on board unhurt in incident.
Just found this:
US military probe 'hit' on plane (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3381069.stm)
Source: BBCi News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news)
BEagle
9th Jan 2004, 04:26
Only this from the BBC:
US military probe 'hit' on plane
The US military is investigating why a transport plane was forced to return to Baghdad airport amid unconfirmed reports it was hit by a missile.
One engine of the huge C-5 plane - with 63 people on board - started vibrating after take-off, US officials said.
The incident came hours after a US military helicopter came down near the flashpoint town of Falluja, killing all nine people on board.
The cause of that forced landing is also being investigated.
A US military statement confirmed the C-5 plane, one of the biggest planes in the world, had developed "excessive engine vibrations in their number four engine" after leaving Baghdad airport.
It managed to land safely and there were no injuries.
"Initial reports indicate the incident is the result of hostile action from the ground but the type of weapon and other details are unknown," the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command said in a statement.
An unnamed official at the Pentagon had earlier said the plane had apparently been hit by a surface-to-air missile.
If this is the case, it would highlight continuing insecurity around Baghdad International Airport.
In November, a civilian Airbus operated by the DHL courier company was hit by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile on take-off but managed to land safely.
:mad:
rotornut
9th Jan 2004, 07:24
US probes 'hit' on military plane
The US military is investigating reports that hostile fire forced a transport plane to return to Baghdad soon after take-off.
The C-5 plane, with 63 people on board, returned after one of its engines started vibrating, US officials said.
"The type of weapon and other details are unknown," the Air Mobility Command said in a statement.
Earlier, a US military helicopter came down near the town of Falluja, killing all nine people on board.
The cause of that forced landing is also being investigated.
'Hostile action'
A US military statement confirmed the C-5 plane, one of the biggest planes in the world, had developed "excessive engine vibrations in their number four engine" after leaving Baghdad airport.
It managed to land safely and there were no injuries.
"Initial reports indicate the incident is the result of hostile action from the ground," the statement from the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command said.
An unnamed official at the Pentagon had earlier said the plane had apparently been hit by a surface-to-air missile.
If this is the case, it would highlight continuing insecurity around Baghdad International Airport.
On 10 December, a US Air Force C-17 cargo and troop transport plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile after takeoff from Baghdad airport, but managed to land safely.
In November, a civilian Airbus operated by the DHL courier company was hit by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile on take-off but managed to land safely.
Routine mission
The Black Hawk helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission when it came down near Falluja, according to military officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Falluja is a hotbed of the Iraqi insurgency and has seen several clashes between local people and US troops.
It was also the scene of one of the worst helicopter crashes to date when 16 US soldiers were killed after their Chinook was shot down on 2 November.
US HELICOPTER CRASHES IN IRAQ
2 Jan - OH-58 Delta Kiowa Warrior shot down near Falluja - one soldier killed
15 Nov - Two Black Hawks crash in Mosul, at least 17 killed
7 Nov - Black Hawk shot down near Tikrit, six killed
2 Nov - Chinook shot down near Falluja, killing 16 US soldiers
25 Oct - Black Hawk crashes near Tikrit, reportedly hit by ground fire - soldier injured
Spokesman Brigadier General Mark Kimmit said he was unable to confirm whether the aircraft was involved in an evacuation at the time, describing its mission as "routine".
"There were no survivors," he told a news conference in Baghdad.
"There were nine personnel aboard the aircraft. We are working under the presumption that they are all American soldiers."
Troops have secured the crash site and an investigation is under way.
A witness told the Associated Press he had heard the whoosh of a rocket and saw it hit the helicopter's tail.
Several American helicopters have been targeted in recent months by guerrillas opposed to the US-led occupation of Iraq.
The Pentagon has reported the deaths of 346 American service personnel in Iraq since 1 May, when President George W Bush declared major combat over.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/3381069.stm