MtJerry
04-21-2005, 09:19 AM
Rest in peace men ... :half:
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A commercial helicopter was shot down in Iraq on Thursday and all nine people aboard were killed, the U.S. Embassy said.
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Blackwater, a U.S.-based company that does contract work for the Pentagon, told NBC News that the six passengers who died were employees of the security firm. The victims' names were not released. Many of the company's employees are former U.S. military.
Contracted by the Pentagon, the aircraft was travelling just north of the capital when it was hit Thursday afternoon, possibly by a rocket-propelled grenade, a U.S. military source said.
The three crew members of the Russian-built helicopter were Bulgarians, Bulgaria's defense ministry stated.
The helicopter was chartered from Washington-based SkyLink Air and Logistic Support.
The attack, believed to be the first downing of a civilian aircraft in Iraq, comes amid a surge in guerrilla violence and puts further pressure on leaders struggling to form a government nearly three months after elections.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7572161/
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A commercial helicopter was shot down in Iraq on Thursday and all nine people aboard were killed, the U.S. Embassy said.
advertisement
Blackwater, a U.S.-based company that does contract work for the Pentagon, told NBC News that the six passengers who died were employees of the security firm. The victims' names were not released. Many of the company's employees are former U.S. military.
Contracted by the Pentagon, the aircraft was travelling just north of the capital when it was hit Thursday afternoon, possibly by a rocket-propelled grenade, a U.S. military source said.
The three crew members of the Russian-built helicopter were Bulgarians, Bulgaria's defense ministry stated.
The helicopter was chartered from Washington-based SkyLink Air and Logistic Support.
The attack, believed to be the first downing of a civilian aircraft in Iraq, comes amid a surge in guerrilla violence and puts further pressure on leaders struggling to form a government nearly three months after elections.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7572161/