LOC12:57
09:57 GMT
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)
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KUNA 051257 Oct 08NNNN