September 08, 2004

Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. military helicopter crashed Wednesday west of Baghdad, but all four personnel aboard survived, the U.S. command said.
A terse statement from the Marine Corps base at Camp Fallujah gave no precise location, no time of the crash and did not say what type of helicopter was involved nor whether it was downed by hostile fire.

“All four personnel aboard a Multinational Force helicopter that crashed ... were evacuated from the crash site,” the statement said. “None of the personnel have life-threatening injuries and all are expected to fully recover. The cause of the crash is under review.”

U.S. officials refused to provide more information.

However, residents of the area said the crash occurred about 20 miles south of Fallujah, controlled by Sunni Muslim militants.

“The helicopter is still burning and warplanes are flying over the area,” one resident, Ahmed Mosleh, told The Associated Press. “A military convoy is heading in the direction of the crash.”

About 25 U.S. military helicopters have crashed in Iraq since May 2003, of which some 15 were brought down by hostile fire.