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| US helicopter crash near Baghdad | US helicopter crash near Baghdad |
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| 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 Sea Knight aircraft, which can carry up to 25 people. | It is not known how many people were on board the CH-46 Sea Knight aircraft, which can carry up to 25 people. |
| It comes three days after US officials said ground fire apparently caused the four previous helicopter losses. | It comes three days after US officials said ground fire apparently caused the four previous helicopter losses. |
| 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. |
| 'Ball of fire' | |
| In the latest incident, witnesses said they saw the helicopter go down amid gunfire from the ground, about 30km (18 miles) north-west of Baghdad, the Associated Press news agency reported. | In the latest incident, witnesses said they saw the helicopter go down amid gunfire from the ground, about 30km (18 miles) north-west of Baghdad, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| RECENT HELICOPTER LOSSES 7 Feb: CH-46 Sea Knight 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_depth/2871129.stm">CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter "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." |
| A statement purported to be from an al-Qaeda-linked group called the Islamic State in Iraq, posted on a website used by Sunni militant groups, said it brought down the helicopter. | |
| "By God's grace, the downing of a helicopter of the crusaders was accomplished on Wednesday morning near the Karamah in Anbar province, leading to its destruction and the deaths of all those on board," the statement said. | |
| Its authenticity could not be independently verified. | |
| 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. |