Helicopter crash in Iraq kills 31 marines
Last Updated Wed, 26 Jan 2005 09:25:19 EST
CBC News
BAGHDAD - A U.S. military helicopter crashed in the western Iraqi desert on Wednesday, reportedly killing 31 marines.
The Pentagon said a CH-53 Sea Stallion crashed near Rutbah at about 1:20 a.m. local time with an unknown number of passengers on board.
The Sea Stallion normally carries 37 passengers, but can take up to 55.
A search and rescue operation was launched in the area. Military officials had no word on what caused the crash.
Rutbah is 352 kilometres west of Baghdad. The helicopter was conducting security operations, the military said, with personnel from the 1st Marine Division on board.
A study by the Brookings Institution, an independent, non-partisan think-tank, says that the U.S. military has lost 33 helicopters since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. At least 20 were shot down by hostile fire.
On Nov. 15, 2003, two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul after colliding while trying to avoid ground fire. That crash killed 17 U.S. soldiers and wounding five.
Earlier that same month, 16 U.S. soldiers were killed with a Chinook transport helicopter was shot down by shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile near Fallujah.
