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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hercules plane destroyed in Iraq | Hercules plane destroyed in Iraq |
| (40 minutes 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, based at RAF Lyneham, had been on a routine re-supply journey. | |
| It landed 20km north of Al-Amarah at about 2010 local time (1710GMT). | 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. | The two people injured were taken to hospital, but the spokesman would not confirm if they were military personnel. |
| 'Potential risk' | 'Potential risk' |
| The Hercules could not safely be recovered and was destroyed by coalition forces three hours later, said the Basra-based spokesman. | |
| An investigation was underway, he added. | An investigation was underway, he added. |
| The MoD said the plane was "significantly damaged" during landing, which led to the site being secured and a "thorough assessment" 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," said a spokesman. | "It was concluded that the aircraft could not be recovered without exposing our personnel to undue risk," said a spokesman. |
| He 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. | The MoD stressed the aircraft had been making "a routine landing on a tactical landing zone" and the plane had not been shot down. |