Heli crash near Baghdad

[ORAC]

Helicopter crashes near Baghdad

A civilian helicopter has crashed in Iraq killing all nine people on board, the US embassy in Baghdad says.

The aircraft, a Russian-made MI-8 said to be on contract to US-led forces, came down north-east of the capital.

US sources are quoted as saying it may have been shot down by small arms fire or a rocket propelled-grenade. Insurgents often fire on US aircraft in Iraq, and have shot down helicopters in the past.

The nationalities of those killed on Thursday are unclear. They included three crew members and six other unidentified people.

Television footage showed the burning wreckage of the aircraft......

[ORAC]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Nine people died Thursday when a commercial helicopter went down north of Baghdad, according to U.S. military sources who suspect it was shot down.

The helicopter was flying between the Iraqi capital and the northern city of Tikrit when it crashed. The Russian-made MI-8 carried a crew of three -- thought to be Bulgarians -- and six passengers, the sources said.

The helicopter is owned SkyLink, a U.S.-based charter company. A SkyLink official in Baghdad said the company is aware of the incident and is investigating the crash.

SkyLink's Web site said it has four helicopters in Iraq, two of which are MI-8s.

[Head Turner]

Another sad report of a helicopter accident. My condolences to all those families in mourning.

[PedalStop]

This thread took a turn toward the abyss of political diatribe, and was trimmed. Stay on topic, please.

PedalStop, Rotorheads moderator

[SASless]

Fox News showed the video this morning...they did leave out the actual murder....did show the shoot down of the aircraft.

I would suggest the thread be changed from "crash" to "downing".

Part of the risks one takes when working in non-permissive areas.

As others have said....prayers to those who have lost loved ones. Hopefully, justice will be brought to those who perpetrated the murder.

[barit1]

Among the civilized, it's called cold-blooded murder.

[Teddy Robinson]

Slain pilot used to fly Malta-Gozo helicopter


A helicopter pilot killed in Iraq on Thursday used to fly the MI-8 Bulgarian helicopters that ferried passengers between Malta and Gozo during the years of the Malta Air Charter operations.

The Association of Airline Pilots, ALPA (Malta) said yesterday that after concluding their contract here, the helicopters were contracted by the United States on commercial flights within Iraq.

The association yesterday expressed its to the family members of Captain Lubomir Kostov whose loss, it said, was felt within the pilot community.

Captain Kostov and his helicopter were shot down by a missile outside Baghdad.

I wish to add my condolences: these were just hard working people doing their job

RIP TR

[Sensible Garage]

Iraqi Tip Leads to Terrorists Suspected of Helicopter Attack

An Iraqi civilian helped Task Force Baghdad soldiers find and apprehend six
terrorists suspected of shooting down a civilian Mi-8 helicopter April 21,
coalition officials in Baghdad, Iraq, announced today.

"The Iraqi citizen told the soldiers he knew where the blue KIA pickup truck
the terrorists used during the attack was parked and led them to the site",
a Multinational Force Iraq release stated. "When the soldiers got there,
several other local residents confirmed the first tip and showed the
soldiers where the terrorists lived".

Soldiers started to search two houses at 12:30 a.m. today. At the first
house, they captured three men and confiscated bomb-making material. At the
second house, the unit detained three more suspects involved in making
improvised explosive devices, officials said, adding that all six men were
taken into custody for questioning.

In other news from Iraq, Iraqi security forces and Task Force Baghdad
soldiers helped put a stop to terrorist activity when they discovered
weapons caches and improvised explosive devices in various parts of Iraq's
capital city April 21.

Around 8 a.m., Iraqi police in eastern Baghdad identified a possible impro-
vised explosive device and cordoned off the area to ensure the safety of
civilians in the area. Less than an hour later, police reported they had
detained a person suspected of being a "triggerman" who'd been planning to
detonate the explosives.

A Task Force Baghdad patrol found an IED in western Baghdad at 1:30 p.m.
Soldiers secured the site and called in an explosive ordnance disposal team,
which determined the bomb had been prepared for a future attack.

Thirty minutes later, another Task Force Baghdad patrol reported a cache of
45 mines, 37 cases of ammunition, eight rockets, guns and rocket launchers.
Iraqi Police had recently gathered the arsenal from local citizens who turn-
ed in the weaponry in Salman Pak. The munitions were destroyed by a
controlled detonation.

"The people of Salman Pak have taken a great step forward by helping to turn
in all these weapons and munitions. The people seem hopeful that normalcy
and peace may now return to their lives, and our message to them is that the
well-trained and led Iraqi security forces will keep a permanent presence in
their city," said Army Maj. Russ Goemaere, spokesperson for 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

Another weapons cache was discovered around 4:30 p.m. by a Task Force
Baghdad patrol. The cache included 200 mortar rounds, small arms and other
explosives.

"Through the quick thinking and action by Iraqi security forces and Task
Force Baghdad soldiers, some potentially violent attacks against innocent
Iraqi citizens were averted today", said Army Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, Task
Force Baghdad spokesman. "With the rise of a more vigilant public, terr-
orists are being frustrated in their attempts to attack the progress of
democracy".

AFPS: Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.

[SASless]

Middle East - AP


4 More Iraq Copter Downing Suspects Nabbed

14 minutes ago Middle East - AP



BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. forces arrested four more suspects in Thursday's downing of a civilian helicopter north of Baghdad, bringing the number apprehended so far to 10, the military said Sunday. All 11 passengers and crew were killed, including one shot by insurgents.



U.S. soldiers from Task Force Baghdad, working with Iraqi security forces, detained the suspects during the past 24 hours, a military statement said.


Iraqi civilians helped U.S. forces locate the first six suspects, who were captured early Saturday, the military said.


The Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter was shot down about 12 miles north of Baghdad. The dead included six American bodyguards for U.S. diplomats, three Bulgarian crew members and two security guards from Fiji, officials said.

[Oluf]

It is with great sorrow I have recieved the news of this terrible injustice. Lubo Kostov was a good friend who I had the pleasure of meeting whilst he was in Africa a few years back. This brutal murder is a great loss to all, as he was truly a good man with the heart in the right place. He will be greatly missed.

My condolenses to all who suffered from this tragedy and to the families they leave behind.

O