IRAQ-CONFLICT: Seven British helicopter crew confirmed dead

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

London, Mar 22 2003 (IPS) - Seven British helicopter crew died early Saturday when their Sea King helicopters collided over international waters in the Gulf, a British military spokesman said.

The deaths bring to 15 the number of British servicemen killed in the Iraq campaign to date, all of them in helicopter crashes.

Group Captain Al Lockwood said: "I have just had a report that all those on the helicopters have perished. Circumstances are such that accidents of this type can happen."

Next-of-kin were being informed and an investigation was underway, Lockwood said.

Early on Friday, eight British soldiers being ferried aboard a US helicopter were killed, when the aircraft crashed inside Kuwait. Four US crewmen also died.