Foreign Affairs
US Helicopter Crashes In Western Iraq, Fatalities Reported
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A U.S. military helicopter has crashed in western Iraq, killing at least some crew members, defense officials said Thursday.
The HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter was carrying seven people when it went down over Anbar Province, reports ABC News. There was no sign of enemy fire, but military officials have not ruled out the possibility the aircraft was shot down.
The U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, officially known as Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a statement:
“A U.S. military aircraft has crashed in western Iraq with U.S. service members aboard. Rescue teams are responding to the scene of the downed aircraft at this time. Further details will be released when available. An investigation will be initiated to determine the cause of the incident.”
The incident comes as the Pentagon is winding down anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and focusing more attention on Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear what kind of mission the helicopter was doing when it crashed.
Thursday’s crash was the second fatal incident involving U.S. military aircraft in as many days. Two U.S. Navy pilots were killed on Wednesday when their F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet crashed into the ocean near Key West, Fla.
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