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| US helicopter crash near Baghdad | US helicopter crash near Baghdad |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A United States military helicopter has gone down near Baghdad, in the fifth such incident in Iraq so far this year, US military officials have said. | A United States military helicopter has gone down near Baghdad, in the fifth such incident in Iraq so far this year, US military officials have said. |
| It is not known how many people were on board the CH-46 Chinook aircraft. | It is not known how many people were on board the CH-46 Chinook aircraft. |
| The incident comes three days after US officials said ground fire apparently caused the four previous helicopter losses, with the loss of 20 lives. | The incident comes three days after US officials said ground fire apparently caused the four previous helicopter losses, with the loss of 20 lives. |
| A US spokesman said on Sunday that tactics were being adjusted and mission procedures modified as a result. | A US spokesman said on Sunday that tactics were being adjusted and mission procedures modified as a result. |
| RECENT HELICOPTER LOSSES 7 Feb: CH-46 Chinook helicopter goes down north-west of Baghdad2 Feb: Apache helicopter goes down near US air base at Taji, two lives lost28 Jan: Apache downed while supporting Iraqi troops near Najaf, two lives lost 23 Jan: OH-6A helicopter used by private US security firm Blackwater crashes in Baghdad after coming under "heavy gunfire"; four civilians killed 20 Jan: Black Hawk goes down near Baghdad, with loss of 12 lives. In the latest incident, witnesses said they saw the Sea Knight helicopter go down amid gunfire from the ground, about 30km (18 miles) north-west of Baghdad, the Associated Press news agency reported. | |
| "The helicopter was flying and passed over us, then we heard the firing of a missile," Mohammad al-Janabi, a farmer, was quoted by AP as saying. | "The helicopter was flying and passed over us, then we heard the firing of a missile," Mohammad al-Janabi, a farmer, was quoted by AP as saying. |
| "The helicopter then turned into a ball of fire. It flew in a circle twice, then it went down." | "The helicopter then turned into a ball of fire. It flew in a circle twice, then it went down." |
| US military spokesman Maj Gen William Caldwell said a "quick reaction force" was on site and an investigation was under way. | US military spokesman Maj Gen William Caldwell said a "quick reaction force" was on site and an investigation was under way. |
| Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed north-east of Baghdad, the deadliest such incident this year. | Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed north-east of Baghdad, the deadliest such incident this year. |
| The US has lost more than 50 military helicopters in Iraq since May 2003. | The US has lost more than 50 military helicopters in Iraq since May 2003. |