Tikrit (Iraq), November 7
An American Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Saddam Hussein’s hometown in Iraq today, killing all six persons on board. US soldiers said it had probably been shot down with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Apache attack helicopters were scouring the area around the crash site in Tikrit, 175 km north of Baghdad, hunting for guerrillas who might have brought the helicopter down.
If confirmed to have been destroyed by hostile fire, it would be the third US helicopter brought down by guerrillas in two weeks.
“At approximately 0900 hrs (local time) this morning a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down,” Maj Josslyn Aberle of the 4th Infantry Division told reporters. “At this stage we don’t know if it was due to a mechanical failure or another reason.”
But soldiers in Tikrit said initial reports suggested the helicopter had been hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
A column of smoke rose from the crash site, and US troops sealed off the area. Soldiers at the base said they had heard two explosions and ran outside to see the helicopter destroyed on a nearby riverbank.
The Black Hawk is the US Army’s frontline utility helicopter, designed to carry 11 combat-ready assault troops, and is also used for medical evacuations.
