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RAF Hercules 'destroyed' in Iraq Hercules plane destroyed in Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
An RAF Hercules transport plane has been destroyed in southern Iraq after it was damaged in an "incident" on landing, the Ministry of Defence said.An RAF Hercules transport plane has been destroyed in southern Iraq after it was damaged in an "incident" on landing, the Ministry of Defence said.
Two people suffered minor injuries in Monday's incident, after which the C130 plane was destroyed because of the potential risk involved in recovery.Two people suffered minor injuries in Monday's incident, after which the C130 plane was destroyed because of the potential risk involved in recovery.
A military spokesman in Basra said there was no evidence of hostile action during the landing in Maysan province.A military spokesman in Basra said there was no evidence of hostile action during the landing in Maysan province.
The plane had been carrying passengers on a routine re-supply journey.The plane had been carrying passengers on a routine re-supply journey.
It landed 20km north of Al-Amarah at about 2010 local time (1710GMT). The two people who were injured have been taken to hospital, but the spokesman would not say whether or not they were military personnel. It landed 20km north of Al-Amarah at about 2010 local time (1710GMT).
The two people injured were taken to hospital, but the spokesman would not confirm if they were military personnel.
'Potential risk''Potential risk'
It was later established that the Hercules could not be recovered without undue risk and was destroyed by coalition forces. The Hercules, which had been based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, could not safely be recovered and was destroyed by coalition forces three hours later, said the Basra-based spokesman.
An investigation is under way, added the spokesman. An investigation was underway, he added.
An MoD spokesman said the plane was "significantly damaged" during landing, which led to the site being secured and a "thorough assessment of the damage" being carried out. The MoD said the plane was "significantly damaged" during landing, which led to the site being secured and a "thorough assessment" being carried out.
"It was concluded that the aircraft could not be recovered without exposing our personnel to undue risk," he said. "It was concluded that the aircraft could not be recovered without exposing our personnel to undue risk," said a spokesman.
The spokesman went on: "There was also a potential risk that anti-Iraqi forces might obtain information on specialist equipment. He went on: "There was also a potential risk that anti-Iraqi forces might obtain information on specialist equipment.
"The aircraft was therefore safely destroyed by multinational forces.""The aircraft was therefore safely destroyed by multinational forces."
The MoD stressed the aircraft had been making "a routine landing on a tactical landing zone" and the plane had not been shot down.