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Iraq crash kills 14 US soldiers Iraq crash kills 14 US soldiers
(10 minutes later)
Fourteen US soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash overnight in northern Iraq, the US military has said.Fourteen US soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash overnight in northern Iraq, the US military has said.
The Black Hawk helicopter carrying 10 soldiers and four crewmembers crashed after experiencing a mechanical malfunction, a US statement said.The Black Hawk helicopter carrying 10 soldiers and four crewmembers crashed after experiencing a mechanical malfunction, a US statement said.
There were reportedly no indications of hostile fire, but the cause of the crash is still under investigation.There were reportedly no indications of hostile fire, but the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
It was the deadliest helicopter crash since January, when another Black Hawk went down in Diyala province.It was the deadliest helicopter crash since January, when another Black Hawk went down in Diyala province.
MAJOR US LOSSES IN IRAQ 2 Nov 03: Chinook helicopter downed near Falluja, killing 1615 Nov 03: Two Black Hawk helicopters collide avoiding ground fire in Mosul, killing 1721 Dec 04: Suicide bomb at military base in Mosul kills 1926 Jan 05: CH-53E helicopter crashes in West Iraq, killing 313 Aug 05: Roadside blast near Haditha kills 14 marines1 Dec 05: Ten marines killed by roadside bomb near Falluja20 Jan 07: Black Hawk crashes near Tal Afar, killing 1224 Apr 07: Suicide bombing of base near Baquba kills nine22 Aug 07: Black Hawk helicopter crashes in northern Iraq, killing 14 soldiersMAJOR US LOSSES IN IRAQ 2 Nov 03: Chinook helicopter downed near Falluja, killing 1615 Nov 03: Two Black Hawk helicopters collide avoiding ground fire in Mosul, killing 1721 Dec 04: Suicide bomb at military base in Mosul kills 1926 Jan 05: CH-53E helicopter crashes in West Iraq, killing 313 Aug 05: Roadside blast near Haditha kills 14 marines1 Dec 05: Ten marines killed by roadside bomb near Falluja20 Jan 07: Black Hawk crashes near Tal Afar, killing 1224 Apr 07: Suicide bombing of base near Baquba kills nine22 Aug 07: Black Hawk helicopter crashes in northern Iraq, killing 14 soldiers
The worst US helicopter crash in Iraq was in January 2005, when 30 marines and a sailor were killed when a Super Stallion came down in bad weather near the Jordanian border.The worst US helicopter crash in Iraq was in January 2005, when 30 marines and a sailor were killed when a Super Stallion came down in bad weather near the Jordanian border.
The 14 soldiers killed on Wednesday were part of Task Force Lightening. The 14 soldiers killed on Wednesday were part of Task Force Lightning.
A second Black Hawk helicopter had been flying alongside them at the time.A second Black Hawk helicopter had been flying alongside them at the time.
It is not known precisely where the helicopter crashed, but the statement was issued by Multinational Division-North, which is based in Tikrit.It is not known precisely where the helicopter crashed, but the statement was issued by Multinational Division-North, which is based in Tikrit.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the fairly frequent losses of helicopters over the past four years has demonstrated the dependence of US forces on them and their vulnerability.The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the fairly frequent losses of helicopters over the past four years has demonstrated the dependence of US forces on them and their vulnerability.