http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2009-01-18/1116539176.html
駐阿美軍兩天來連續墜毀兩架直升機
http://www.sina.com.cn  2009年01月18日 11:16  人民網

　　人民網1月18日訊 駐阿富汗美軍17日再度發生直升機墜毀事件：一架“支奴幹”大型直升機在阿東部地區“硬著陸”，結果造成一名美軍喪生。同一天，阿首都喀布爾17日發生汽車炸彈爆炸事件，造成一名美軍和四名阿富汗平民被炸死。僅僅24小時前，一架美軍“黑鷹”直升機在喀布爾附近墜毀，但7名機上人員全部生還。

　　17日的直升機“硬著陸”事件發生在阿富汗靠近巴基斯坦的邊界地區。當時，這架飛機上共有7名美軍人員。美軍聲明指出，雖然具體的事故原因仍然在調查之中，但事 發前這架直升機顯然曾遭到地面輕型武器的射擊。附近村民對記者介紹說，他們看見這架飛機被什麼東西“擊中”，然後很快墜地，並冒出滾滾濃煙。

　　由於塔利班武裝缺乏可擕式地對空導彈等精密武器，他們主要依靠火箭筒和重機槍之類相對簡陋的裝備來對付美軍直升機，但也曾取得過擊落擊傷多架直升機的戰果。其中，上述“黑鷹”直升機16日在執行醫療救援任務途中“仰面朝天”墜入民居，有關方面尚未排除其遭到“敵方火力”偷襲的可能。塔利班尚未宣稱對這兩次墜機事件負責。

　　自從2005年後，由於美軍不斷向伊拉克增兵而相對忽視阿富汗，造成當地的塔利班餘黨日益猖獗，並開始在南部山區重組。據介紹，塔利班主要通過遊擊戰和發 動自殺式襲擊等方法來向阿富汗政府及其北約盟友示威。美軍決定，今年將向阿富汗增兵三萬，以便從南部和東部保護阿富汗首都喀布爾免受塔利班武裝威脅。

　　“黑鷹”是美軍各兵種通用的中型直升機。只不過，美國海軍或者陸戰隊裝備的同類型直升機代號為“海鷹”。除駕駛員外，機上還可搭載11名全副武裝的士兵， 主要承擔向前沿陣地運送突擊部隊和對地面和海上目標進行攻擊的任務，有時也用於從戰場搶救傷患。駐阿富汗和伊拉克兩地的美軍大量使用“黑鷹”作為運輸工 具。

　　本月15日，一架俄羅斯生產的米-17直升機在阿富汗國西部地區墜毀，造成一名阿富汗陸軍高級將領和另外13人遇難。這位名叫薩亞爾的將軍是阿富汗四大 軍區司令之一，主要負責阿西部地區的防務。阿富汗政府發表的聲明稱，直升機失事地點位於赫亞特省境內。事發前，這架飛機曾因天氣條件惡劣而一度推遲起飛。

　　塔利班武裝發言人優素福對美聯社記者宣稱，該組織成員擊落了這架“負責運送大人物”的直升機。不過，阿富汗國防部對此表示否認，理由是飛機失事地點附近 並沒有塔利班武裝人員出沒。由於氣象條件惡劣，這架飛機只能低空飛行，隨後不幸撞山起火爆炸。由於多年戰事影響，阿富汗陸軍的飛機多數破舊不堪，安全性能很差。

　　不過，一位不願透露姓名的阿富汗國防部官員表示，這架飛機可能是造成了“敵方火力”而墜毀的。同時，墜機前事發地點附近沙塵肆虐，能見度很低。阿富汗陸軍現有兵力8萬左右，有關方面希望能在2012年將這個數字擴充到13.4萬，以便有效承擔打擊境內塔利班武裝的任務。因此，阿陸軍建設是該國防務發展的主攻方向。

　　阿富汗的空軍力量也在多國部隊的幫助下重建，目前總共裝備有23架米-17運輸機和8架固定翼運輸機。阿軍方希望能將直升機數量提高到59架以上。由於阿富汗境內多山區，再加上道路不暢和塔利班武裝人員騷擾，當地官員多依靠直升機作為遠距離出行的“腳力”。

　　普遍認為，塔利班和其他一些反政府武裝派別主要在該國南部地區活動，並且逐漸重新控制了包括坎大哈在內的多個阿南部重鎮的週邊地區。受塔利班勢力影響，巴基斯坦部分地區的極端組織也蠢蠢欲動，並公開執行了他們向當地女生下達的“禁學令”，以便為成立所謂的“政教合一”國家造聲勢。目前，當地已經有170多所招收女生的學校被武裝分子摧毀。

　　自從本月15日，武裝分子下達的禁學令正式生效後，受影響地區的400多所學校依然處於“放寒假”狀態。在塔利班執政時期，阿富汗國內禁止女生上學，同時中央政府命令多數婦女辭職回家充當“全職太太”。自從2001年被美軍趕下臺後，塔利班的支持者依然在各地活動，經常發動襲擊女子學校的活動，並且逐漸滲透到了巴基斯坦的山區紮下根來。(高軼軍)

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2009-01-17/0908539082.html
美軍黑鷹直升機墜毀阿富汗 不排除遭襲擊可能
http://www.sina.com.cn  2009年01月17日 09:08  人民網

 
　　人民網1月17日訊 一架隸屬于美國陸軍的“黑鷹”直升機16日清晨在阿富汗首都喀布爾附近墜毀，但7名機上人員全部生還。據悉，這架直升機是在執行醫療救援任務途中“仰面朝天”墜入民居，有關方面尚未排除其遭到“敵方火力”偷襲的可能。這是數天內美軍上演的第二次“黑鷹墜地”事件，也是阿富汗境內連日來發生的第二起直升機墜毀事故。

　　本月13日，同樣隸屬于美陸軍的一架“黑鷹”直升機在德克薩斯州農工大學校園內墜毀，結果造成1死5傷。其中，有5名死傷者是機上人員，另外還有一名“過路人”因遭直升機殘骸擊中而受了輕傷。目擊者稱，事發前共有5架“黑鷹”在進行起飛和降落訓練，其中1架升空後不久即開始打轉，隨後就失速墜落地面。

　　“黑鷹”是美軍各兵種通用的中型直升機。只不過，美國海軍或者陸戰隊裝備的同類型直升機代號為“海鷹”。除駕駛員外，機上還可搭載11名全副武裝的士兵，主要承擔向前沿陣地運送突擊部隊和對地面和海上目標進行攻擊的任務，有時也用於從戰場搶救傷患。駐阿富汗和伊拉克兩地的美軍大量使用“黑鷹”作為運輸工具。

　　本月15日，一架俄羅斯生產的米-17直升機在阿富汗國西部地區墜毀，造成一名阿富汗陸軍高級將領和另外13人遇難。這位名叫薩亞爾的將軍是阿富汗四大軍區司令之一，主要負責阿西部地區的防務。阿富汗政府發表的聲明稱，直升機失事地點位於赫亞特省境內。事發前，這架飛機曾因天氣條件惡劣而一度推遲起飛。

　　塔利班武裝發言人優素福對美聯社記者宣稱，該組織成員擊落了這架“負責運送大人物”的直升機。不過，阿富汗國防部對此表示否認，理由是飛機失事地點附近並沒有塔利班武裝人員出沒。由於氣象條件惡劣，這架飛機只能低空飛行，隨後不幸撞山起火爆炸。由於多年戰事影響，阿富汗陸軍的飛機多數破舊不堪，安全性能很差。

　　不過，一位不願透露姓名的阿富汗國防部官員表示，這架飛機可能是造成了“敵方火力”而墜毀的。同時，墜機前事發地點附近沙塵肆虐，能見度很低。據悉，塔利班武裝裝備較差，主要依靠缺乏精確制導系統的火箭筒來威脅低空飛行的直升機，但的確曾先後擊落擊傷過少量美軍戰機，其中就包括大名鼎鼎的“黑鷹”直升機。

　　阿富汗陸軍現有兵力8萬左右，有關方面希望能在2012年將這個數字擴充到13.4萬，以便有效承擔打擊境內塔利班武裝的任務。因此，阿陸軍建設是該國防務發展的主攻方向。阿富汗的空軍力量也在多國部隊的幫助下重建，目前總共裝備有23架米-17運輸機和8架固定翼運輸機。阿軍方希望能將直升機數量提高到59架以上。

　　由於阿富汗境內多山區，再加上道路不暢和塔利班武裝人員騷擾，當地官員多依靠直升機作為遠距離出行的“腳力”。普遍認為，塔利班和其他一些反政府武裝派別主要在該國南部地區活動，並且逐漸重新控制了包括坎大哈在內的多個阿南部重鎮的週邊地區。美軍因此決定，要在今年增兵阿富汗，並且派遣更多“黑鷹”參加清剿塔利班的活動。(高軼軍)

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2009-01-16/1506539017.html
美軍黑鷹直升機在阿富汗墜毀無人員傷亡
http://www.sina.com.cn  2009年01月16日 15:06  中國新聞網

　　中新網1月16日電 據美國媒體報導，美國軍方一架“黑鷹”直升機16日在阿富汗首都附近墜毀，機上7人都安然無恙。

　　美軍發表的聲明說，這架飛機是在執行醫療任務的途中出事的。聲明並未透露出事原因，只稱和敵方無關。

　　目前，軍方正在調查出事原因。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090116/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunresthelicopterus_20090116105751
US chopper crash-lands near Afghan capital, no one hurt: military

Fri Jan 16, 5:56 am ET

KABUL (AFP) – A US Black Hawk helicopter was forced to crash land outside the Afghan capital Friday but all seven US crew and passengers on board were safely evacuated, the US military said.

The incident came one day after an Afghan army helicopter crashed in the west of the country, killing a senior general and 12 other members of the Afghan National Army.

Thursday's accident was believed to have been caused by poor weather which may also have played a part in Friday's crash-landing of the Black Hawk, officials said.

"The crew and passengers are safe and secure, and enemy activity was not involved," a US military statement said. The cause of the crash was being investigated.

The United States has about 32,000 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of a multinational force helping the country to fight a Taliban-led insurgency.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2009-01-16/0731538954.html
阿富汗軍用直升機墜毀 阿軍高級將領等13人亡
http://www.sina.com.cn  2009年01月16日 07:31  中國新聞網

　　中新網1月15日電 據外國媒體報導，阿富汗一架軍用直升機15日墜毀，阿軍一名高級將領等13人死亡。

　　目前軍方救援人員已經前往事故現場。事故原因目前仍在調查中。

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2009-01-16/0748538956.html
塔利班聲稱擊落阿富汗米-17運輸直升機
http://www.sina.com.cn  2009年01月16日 07:48  人民網

　　人民網1月16日訊 一名阿富汗陸軍高級將領15日在該國西部地區因直升機墜毀遇難。據悉，這位名叫薩亞爾的將軍是阿富汗四大軍區司令之一，主要負責阿西部地區的防務。阿富汗政府發表的聲明透露，失事的飛機為俄制米-17運輸直升機。當天早上，這架飛機因氣象條件惡劣推遲起飛，後來在赫亞特省墜毀，機上13人全部喪生。

　　塔利班武裝發言人優素福對美聯社記者宣稱，他們擊落了這架“運送大人物”的直升機。不過，阿富汗國防部對此表示否認，理由是飛機失事地點附近並沒有塔利班武裝人員出沒。由於氣象條件惡劣，這架飛機只能低空飛行，隨後不幸撞山起火爆炸。由於多年戰事影響，阿富汗陸軍的飛機多數破舊不堪，安全性能很差。

　　不過，一位不願透露姓名的阿富汗國防部官員表示，這架飛機可能確因遭受“敵方火力”偷襲而墜毀。同時，墜機前事發地點附近沙塵肆虐，能見度很低。據悉，塔利班武裝裝備較差，主要依靠缺乏精確制導系統的火箭筒來威脅低空飛行的直升機，但曾先後擊落過少量美軍和其他國家的直升機。

　　阿富汗陸軍現有兵力8萬左右，有關方面希望能在2012年將這個數字擴充到13.4萬，以便有效承擔打擊境內塔利班武裝的任務。因此，阿陸軍建設是該國防務發展的主攻方向。阿富汗的空軍力量也在多國部隊的幫助下重建，目前總共裝備有23架米-17運輸機和8架固定翼運輸機。阿軍方希望能將直升機數量提高到59架以上。

　　由於阿富汗境內多山區，再加上道路不暢和塔利班武裝人員騷擾，當地官員多依靠直升機作為遠距離出行的“腳力”。普遍認為，塔利班和其他一些反政府武裝派別主要在該國南部地區活動，並且逐漸重新控制了包括坎大哈在內的多個阿南部重鎮的週邊地區。美軍因此決定，要在今年增兵阿富汗，特別是要開展針對南部的清剿活動。

　　為了緩和阿富汗政府和各武裝派別之間的緊張對峙局面，尤其是要減少塔利班武裝對西方支持的卡爾紮伊政權造成的壓力，沙烏地阿拉伯情報局負責人同各派力量舉行會晤。在塔利班上個世紀90年代在阿富汗執政時期，沙特是為數不多承認該政權的國家。同時，沙特作為遜尼派穆斯林國家領袖之一，對阿富汗政府也可發揮影響力。

　　除了塔利班外，“基地”組織最高頭目本拉登及其副手目前可能也躲藏在阿富汗南部靠近巴基斯坦交界地帶的群山之中，並不斷配合當地的塔利班餘黨開展襲擊活動。這兩股力量整合一起行動，其勢力範圍南下巴基斯坦，北上阿富汗首都喀布爾，已經成為嚴重影響上述兩國穩定和多國部隊陸上後勤補給線安全的重要威脅力量。

　　據悉，駐阿美軍及其北約盟軍需要的燃料、食品和其他後勤物資，多數(75%)都要經卡巴通道運進阿富汗。這些物資首先通過海運抵達巴基斯坦南部港口卡拉齊，然後沿著公路北上，最終抵達阿首都喀布爾。據統計，每天有至少300輛卡車經卡巴通道出入阿富汗，不過，美軍的武器彈藥不經卡巴通道運輸。

　　雖然美軍強調，即便關閉卡巴通道數星期，北約盟軍也不會“斷糧”，但各方已經開始研究通過替代路線轉運後勤物資的方法。塔利班武裝在偷襲美軍後勤補給線的同時，更不斷發動路邊炸彈襲擊和綁架活動。美軍因此決定，通過開展“軍民聯防”行動，配合親政府的民兵共同遏制塔利班。(高軼軍)

http://n.yam.com/bcc/international/200901/20090113683404.html
美軍黑鷹直昇機墜毀德州農工大學 1死4傷 
中廣新聞網╱夏明珠 2009-01-13 08:31
   
美軍的一架黑鷹直昇機墜毀在德州農工大學校園內，機上人員一死四傷。

那架直升機在當地時間星期一下午，進行學生軍團飛行訓練的時候墜毀，機上五人，有一人死亡，還好沒有波及地面上的人。

目擊者說，當時他看到空中有兩架直升機，其中一架升空後不久，就開始打轉，沒多久就墜落地面。

德州農工大學在創立之初，是一座軍校，1963年改制，1965年廢除軍事必修，開始招收女生，不過學校裏依然有預備軍官團，約占學生總數十分之一，校園內就有飛行訓練場。美國前總統老布希的紀念圖書館，也在德州農工大學內。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_re_us/helicopter_crash_4
1 killed, 4 hurt in Black Hawk crash at Texas A&M

Mon Jan 12, 10:27 pm ET(Associated Press)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – An Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a field on the campus of Texas A&M University during a field training exercise Monday, killing one person and injuring four others aboard.

The Army UH-60 helicopter crashed Monday near the Corps of Cadets field on the school's College Station campus, about 100 miles northwest of Houston. No students were among the injured.

A crew of four from the Army National Guard and an Army lieutenant assigned to the school's ROTC unit were the only ones aboard the Black Hawk, Texas A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said.

Sheila Rinard with College Station Medical Center said two of the crash victims were in critical condition and a third was in stable condition.

Another crash victim was at St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, a spokesman said. That person's condition wasn't immediately known. One person on the ground was hit by flying debris and suffered minor injuries, Stephenson said.

Officials did not release the names of the dead and injured.

Witnesses told the Bryan-College Station Eagle they saw five Black Hawk helicopters taking off and landing throughout the day.

Scott Walker said one of two helicopters he watched lift off seemed to lose control and start spinning, Walker said.

"All of a sudden he dropped straight back down into the ground," Walker told the newspaper.

The helicopter, along with 190 cadets in the university's Corps of Cadets, the school's own officer training unit, were participating in the ROTC Winter Field Training Exercises.

Students are on winter break, with classes set to resume Jan. 20.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2008-12-12/1152534519.html
美國海岸警衛隊直升機墜海 3人死亡2人失蹤
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年12月12日 11:52  中國新聞網

　　中新網12月12日電 綜合報導，據美國海岸警衛隊稱，一架載有5人的直升機11日在墨西哥灣墜海，其中3人死亡，機上另外兩人失蹤。

　　美國海岸警衛隊11日接獲報案，一架出租直升機原訂前往得州外海一座鑽油平臺，可是過了預定時間仍未抵達。警衛隊派機出海搜尋，在墨西哥灣距離岸邊大約2英里的地方，發現直升機殘骸和漂浮在海面的3具屍體。

　　目前，對失蹤人員的搜救工作仍在繼續，墜機原因還在調查之中。

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081212/helicopter_crash.html?.v=1
AP
Helicopter with 5 aboard crashes off Texas coast
Friday December 12, 10:04 am ET 

Coast Guard says 3 dead in helicopter crash in Gulf of Mexico off Texas coast, 2 still missing

SABINE PASS, Texas (AP) -- Three people died Thursday when their helicopter crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on the way to an oil rig, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The search continued for two others who were on the helicopter.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Renee Aiello said Jefferson County authorities had pronounced the three dead. She said a Coast Guard cutter would remain in the crash area overnight and aerial searches would resume Friday morning.

Aiello said the Coast Guard was alerted after Rotorcraft Leasing Co., a helicopter leasing company in Broussard, La., reported its pilot had not checked in as scheduled.

A rescue helicopter crew found the three bodies and debris in the water about two miles off the Texas coast.

The helicopter was headed toward an unmanned oil platform about 18 miles offshore, Aiello said.

A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington said investigators would work with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash.

Sabine Pass is about 90 miles east of Houston.

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-10/28/content_10264093.htm
俄一米8墜毀 駕駛員為保地面人員放棄逃生 
2008年10月28日 09:16:53 　來源：環球時報•環球網

    俄一架米-8直升機于當地時間10月26日14：30分在喀山墜機，駕駛員為阻止已失控的飛機撞向民宅、保護地面人員而放棄了最後的跳傘救生機會，機組人員中4人當場死亡，1人重傷。

     據俄“消息”頻道10月26日報道，據目擊者稱，直升機由于螺旋槳發生故障，事發前停止工作，之後就發生了墜機事件。而降落傘就在出事地點不遠處。事發後，直升機嚴重受損並發生大火。

    據俄《共青團真理報》10月26報道，失事飛機機組人員拒絕使用降落傘是因為要避免直升機撞到民宅。《共青團真理報》記者在事發後一個半小時趕到出事地點。出事地點村莊的村民古麗婭對記者說，他們親眼看到墜機經過，當時他們在地裏正幹活，一架直升機在他們頭頂上空飛過，然後就在離他們五步遠的距離墜落。爆炸過後，他們趕到事發地點，飛行員滿身是血，只說了一句“救命”就身亡了。

    《共青團真理報》記者說，駕駛員放棄了最後的跳傘救生機會，而是極力阻止已失控的飛機撞向民宅。這非常不可思議，因為飛機已經失控，而飛行員還是將其成功調整方向墜落在了民宅之間的空地上，保護了數十人的生命。（梁小逸）

http://n.yam.com/afp/international/200810/20081024764783.html
義大利軍用直升機墜毀法國　機上八人全喪生  
法新社╱林治平 2008-10-24 06:05    

 
（法新社法國麥次二十三日電）法國地方政府官員表示，義大利一架軍用直升機今天在法國東部墜毀，隨即爆炸起火，機上八名人員全部喪生。

麥次地區官員說，這架直升機在一個村鎮附近墜毀，消防人員撲滅火勢後，由機身殘骸中拖出死者遺體。

地方當局發言人說：「機上有八個人，無人生還。」這架直升機是在下午四時三十分左右墜毀，地點在遠離住宅區的田野，當時天氣狀況良好。

義大利國防部表示，失事的是架塞考斯基公司生產的HH3F「鵜鶘式」直升機，當時正與法國軍方進行聯合操演。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081023/wl_afp/franceitalymilitaryairaccident_081023175804;_ylt=AvSuEgzChBfNp0gQ1ZJW47qQOrgF
Italian chopper crash in France kills eight

Thu Oct 23, 1:58 pm ET

METZ, France (AFP) – All eight people on board died when an Italian military helicopter crashed and burst into flames on Thursday in a field in eastern France, local officials said.

Firefighters pulled the bodies out of the chopper after dousing the fire near the town of L'Isle-en-Barrois, they said.

"There were eight people on board the aircraft and none survived," a spokesman for the French regional authorities said, adding that a crisis cell had been set up to deal with the crash aftermath.

The helicopter went down at around 4.30pm (14h30 GMT) in a field far from any residential zone.

Weather conditions were excellent at the time of the crash, officials said.

There was no immediate information on what caused the accident. An inquiry into the cause of the crash will be carried out, French officials said.

The Italian defence ministry said the aircraft was a Sikorsky HH3F Pelican engaged in manoeuvres alongside the French military.

It was en route with another Italian helicopter between the French towns of Dijon and Florent-en-Argonne when it went down, said the ministry in Rome.

http://n.yam.com/afp/international/200810/20081005381576.html
美軍方：兩架黑鷹直昇機墜毀巴格達  
法新社╱簡長盛 2008-10-05 04:05     
 
 
（法新社巴格達四日電）美國軍方的一名發言人說，兩架美國黑鷹直昇機今天晚間在巴格達北部遜尼派的艾達米亞地區墜毀。

美軍發言人艾萬斯上尉說，至少一名伊拉克士兵喪生，另外，包括兩名美軍士兵在內的四人受傷。

他說：「兩架UH-60黑鷹直昇機今天晚間八時五十五分在艾達米亞（巴格達北部）的福特戰鬥前哨基地降落時墜毀。」

他說：「一名伊拉克陸軍士兵喪生，兩名聯軍部隊（人員）和兩名伊拉克陸軍士兵受傷。」他接著說：　「情況已獲得控制，緊急救難工作已在現場展開。」

艾萬斯說，目前仍不清楚意外發生時有多少人在直昇機上。

他接著說：「這一次敵軍的炮火並未涉及此事。」

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081004/wl_mideast_afp/iraqushelicoptercrash_081004210604
Two US Blackhawks crash in Baghdad: military

by Jay Deshmukh
Sat Oct 4, 5:06 PM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed in northern Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiyah late on Saturday while approaching landing, a US military spokesman said.
 
"Reports we have is that the two heliopters were in the process of landing when they collided," spokesman Captain Charles Calio told AFP.

At least one Iraqi army soldier was killed and four people, including two US soldiers, were wounded, another US spokesman, Lieutenant Patrick Evans, said.

"Two UH-60 Blackhawks have crashed while landing at Combat Outpost Ford in Adhamiyah (northern Baghdad) about 8:55 p.m. (1755 GMT)," Evans said.

"One Iraqi army soldier is killed. Two coalition forces (personnel) and two Iraqi army (soldiers were) wounded," he said, adding that the "situation is under control. Emergency services are on the scene."

It is not known how many were on board at the time of the incident, he said.

"Enemy fire is not suspected at this time," he added.

US military officials said they could not comment on local media reports that there had been firing at the aircraft and that persistent gun fire was heard in the area immediately after the crash.

Local residents said security forces cordoned off the entire area and did not allow traffic or pedestrians to get through to the crash site.

The UH-60 is the workhorse of the US military and operates in pairs. Each aircraft crew consists of two pilots and two gunners. Blackhawks routinely throw magnesium flares to deflect any heat-seeking missiles fired at them.

The latest US helicopter incident came 17 days after another US military helicopter crashed in southern Iraq, killing all seven soldiers aboard.

The CH-47 Chinook crashed about 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the main southern port city of Basra as it formed part of a four-aircraft convoy flying from Kuwait to the northern city of Balad.

The US military had said that they did not suspect enemy activity in the September 18 crash too, but investigation findings have not been published.

The worst single crash was on November 15, 2003, when two Blackhawks collided near the main northern city of Mosul, killing 17 soldiers.

In August last year, a Blackhawk transport chopper crashed in northern Iraq, killing 14 US military personnel.

Two American soldiers were hurt when their helicopter crashed south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad in June this year.

In January and February last year there was a spate of crashes, including some aircraft shot down by an insurgent cell which deployed anti-aircraft crews north of Baghdad. US forces have since hunted down those gunners.

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-09/19/content_10074358.htm
駐伊美軍一架運輸直升機墜毀 7名美兵死亡 
2008年09月19日 10:26:15 　來源：中國新聞網 

    綜合報道，美軍一架“支奴幹”型軍用運輸直升機18日在伊拉克南部墜毀，造成機上7名美軍士兵死亡。

    據一名美軍發言人稱，“依目前所看，並不是敵對行動(所致)”，可能是由于機械事故造成了CH-47型“支奴幹”軍用運輸直升機的墜毀。

    墜機地點發生在伊南部城市巴士拉以西約100公裏處。據美軍方稱，一支迅速反應部隊和一支地面部隊已被派往該地區。

    首批CH-47型“支奴幹”于1962年在美軍服役，該機最大可搭乘數十名作戰士兵，在40多年的時間裏，美軍總共裝配了1179架該型直升機。07年初，美軍啟動了對于CH-47F 新型“支奴幹”軍用運輸直升機的軍事試驗。

    在伊拉克，美軍較多使用“阿帕奇”武裝直升機和“黑鷹”直升機運載少量士兵進行軍事部署。

    據統計，從03年伊拉克戰爭爆發後，美軍已損失69架直升機，其中36架被敵軍擊落。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080918/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestuscrash_080918122130
Seven US troops killed in Iraq chopper crash

by Amal Jayasinghe
Thu Sep 18, 8:21 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Seven American soldiers were killed on Thursday when their transport helicopter crashed in southern Iraq, the deadliest such incident in the country for over a year, the US military said.
 
The CH-47 Chinook went down, killing all on board, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the main southern port city of Basra as it formed part of a four-aircraft convoy flying from Kuwait to the northern city of Balad.

"The total casualties for the Ch-47 is seven. This includes the crew," Major John C. Hall said. "All seven died as a result of the crash."

The incident comes just two days after US General Raymond Odierno took over as the new commander of US-led forces in Iraq from General David Petraeus.

British military spokesman Major Paul Smyth said a British quick reaction force was despatched from Basra and a British road convoy in the vicinity was diverted to the scene of the crash.

He said both British and US personnel were at the scene.

The US military said the incident was under investigation. "However, enemy activity is not suspected," it added.

"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.

Earlier this week, the Baghdad international airport shut intermittently as sand storms engulfed the region and reduced visibility to near zero. Hundreds of passengers travelling to and from Baghdad were stranded for two days.

Thursday's crash was the worst since August 2007 when a US Blackhawk transport chopper crashed in northern Iraq, killing 14 US military personnel.

Two American soldiers were hurt when their helicopter crashed south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad in June this year.

The worst single crash was on November 15, 2003, when two Blackhawks collided near the main northern city of Mosul, killing 17 soldiers.

In January and February last year there was a spate of crashes, including some aircraft shot down by an insurgent cell which deployed anti-aircraft crews north of Baghdad. US forces have since hunted down those gunners.

The latest deaths bring to 4,168 the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, according to an AFP count based on independent website icasualties.org.

The total number of US troops killed this month was 17 compared to 23 killed in August and 13 killed in July, the month with the lowest toll since the invasion. Sixty-six troops were killed in September 2007.

The military's losses have been declining in the past few months on the back of an overall fall in violence across the country.

Meanwhile, the US military arrested an American soldier serving in Iraq over the killing this week of two comrades, the military said in a separate statement on Thursday.

Staff Sergeant Darris Dawson, 24, and Sergeant Wesley Durbin, 26, were shot dead on Sunday at their patrol base near Iskandariyah, just south of Baghdad, the US military said in a separate statement.

"A US soldier is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths," it said. "He is being held in custody pending review by a military magistrate."