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Iraqi soldier killed, five more injured in Blackhawks crash -- US army

BAGHDAD, Oct 5 (KUNA) -- An Iraqi soldier was reported killed and five other soldiers, two Iraqis and three Americans, were injured in two Blackhawk helicopters' crash Saturday night in an air base northern Baghdad.
A statement by the US Army said that two military copters collided while attempting to land at an air base in al-A'zamiya District northeast Baghdad, which resulted in the casualties.
The accident was still under investigations to determine its causes, the statement said, ruling out the possibility of the copters being exposed to hostile fire.
Media advisor to the Multi-National Force Al-Meqdad Jibril had earlier told KUNA that it was confirmed that the crash took place at 8:55 pm on Saturday, noting that it was not clear that the accident was a result of a hostile act.
The mid-air collision took place in al-Talebiya area of Al-A'zamiya District, near Al-Sadr City, where MNF-backed Iraqi forces were carrying out a wide-scale security operation, eyewitnesses said. (end) mhg.hb KUNA 051257 Oct 08NNNN