US helicopter crash kills seven soldiers
Thursday, 18 Sep 2008 09:04
Seven US soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Iraq
Seven US soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Iraq, military officials have confirmed.
The Chinook in which they were travelling was flying in a convoy from Kuwait to Balad when crashed around 60 miles west of the Basra on Thursday.
"The seven soldiers were the only ones on board the Chinook at the time of the crash," the United States military said in a statement.
The incident is currently under investigation, officials announced, but added that "enemy activity is not suspected".
"It is a tough day for the coalition and we are deeply saddened by the loss of our soldiers," said Colonel Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the US military, also added.
The crash is the deadliest such incident in Iraq for over a year.