US pilots killed in Iraq helicopter crash

US pilots killed in Iraq helicopter crash

Two American pilots have been killed in a helicopter crash north of Baghdad.

The US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field and burst into flames at about 11.45am on Monday in al-Mashahda, 30km north of the capital.

Iraqi journalist Ziyad al-Samarai told Aljazeera that the aircraft was hit by a rocket in the farm-rich area.

The journalist said a meeting of officials was being held in al-Mashahda police station at the time and US military vehicles and helicopters had surrounded the area.

Al-Samarai reported that the rocket directly hit the helicopter and downed it immediately, adding that columns of smoke could be seen rising from the crash scene as US forces sealed off the area.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/53DA7AA7-1BA7-42EC-B51A-2083A5CCCF8F.htm