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BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. Chinook helicopter
believed carrying dozens of soldiers to their "R&R" leaves was shot
down as it approached Baghdad airport on Sunday, the U.S. command said. It
reported at least one soldier killed and 20 injured.
"The Chinook was shot down by an unknown weapon," a U.S. spokesman in
Baghdad said on condition of anonymity. The precise location was not
immediately reported.
American military officials have repeatedly warned that hundreds of
shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles remain unaccounted for in Iraq (news
- web
sites) since the collapse of Saddam Hussein (news
- web
sites)'s regime in April. Insurgents have fired on U.S. aircraft
before, but this was the first known shootdown involving the Baghdad
airport.
The helicopter was part of a formation of two Chinooks carrying more
than 50 passengers to the U.S. base at the former Saddam International
Airport, renamed Baghdad International.
"Our initial report is that they were being transported to BIA for
R&R flights," that is, rest and recreation leaves abroad, a U.S.
command spokeswoman in Baghdad said.
The presence of the portable anti-aircraft missiles has represented a
significant threat for military aircraft and raised concerns over the
security of the few commercial flights in and out of Baghdad International
Airport. The U.S.-led coalition has offered rewards of $500 apiece are
being offered to Iraqis who turn them in.
A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter crash-landed Oct. 25 in Tikrit after
taking ground-fire, injuring one crewmember.
On June 12, a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down by
hostile fire in the western desert, and two crewmembers were rescued
unhurt. Those were the only U.S. military aircraft known to have been shot
down since President George W. Bush (news
- web
sites) declared an end to major combat in Iraq on May 1.
The workhorse, 10-ton Chinook, which has a crew of four, is the
military's most versatile heavy-lift helicopter, used primarily for troop
movements, transporting artillery and similar functions.
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