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CNN Live Today

Helicopter Crashes in Iraq Killing All Nine People Aboard

Aired January 08, 2004 - 10:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in Iraq where a U.S. military helicopter has crashed, killing all nine people aboard. Coalition forces and officials are not saying why it crashed but it is the second deadly incident involving U.S. troops in less than 25 hours. We get the latest now from the capital and CNN's Karl Penhaul, who is in Baghdad. Hello.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Yes, this Black Hawk helicopter went down just south of the town of Fallujah. That's west of Baghdad and in the Sunni Muslim Triangle. That's the heartland of the anti-coalition insurgency.

Now, U.S. military authorities haven't yet given us a full explanation as to why the helicopter went down. At this point they're still describing it as an emergency landing. What they have confirmed to us though is that all nine aboard have died. All nine aboard were soldiers, military personnel. And all are presumed to be American military personnel.

We are also told from other sources within the coalition that this helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission, although in this afternoon's press briefing General Mark Kimmet (ph) said only that this helicopter was on a routine helicopter mission.

This would make it, though, the worst helicopter accident for whatever cause since November, when there were a series of attacks on Black Hawk helicopters and also on a Chinook transport helicopter -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Karl, what can you tell us about the mortar attack that took place west of Baghdad?

PENHAUL: Indeed all, again, in the same general area, the area known as the Sunni Triangle. That mortar attack came a couple of hours after sundown last night. Initially the reports were 35 people wounded, 34 U.S. soldiers, 1 civilian. And overnight, coalition authorities tell us, one of those soldiers succumbed to his wounds and died. Nineteen others, we understand, are now back on the job.

KAGAN: Karl Penhaul in Baghdad, thank you for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 8, 2004 - 10:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in Iraq where a U.S. military helicopter has crashed, killing all nine people aboard. Coalition forces and officials are not saying why it crashed but it is the second deadly incident involving U.S. troops in less than 25 hours. We get the latest now from the capital and CNN's Karl Penhaul, who is in Baghdad. Hello.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Yes, this Black Hawk helicopter went down just south of the town of Fallujah. That's west of Baghdad and in the Sunni Muslim Triangle. That's the heartland of the anti-coalition insurgency.

Now, U.S. military authorities haven't yet given us a full explanation as to why the helicopter went down. At this point they're still describing it as an emergency landing. What they have confirmed to us though is that all nine aboard have died. All nine aboard were soldiers, military personnel. And all are presumed to be American military personnel.

We are also told from other sources within the coalition that this helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission, although in this afternoon's press briefing General Mark Kimmet (ph) said only that this helicopter was on a routine helicopter mission.

This would make it, though, the worst helicopter accident for whatever cause since November, when there were a series of attacks on Black Hawk helicopters and also on a Chinook transport helicopter -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Karl, what can you tell us about the mortar attack that took place west of Baghdad?

PENHAUL: Indeed all, again, in the same general area, the area known as the Sunni Triangle. That mortar attack came a couple of hours after sundown last night. Initially the reports were 35 people wounded, 34 U.S. soldiers, 1 civilian. And overnight, coalition authorities tell us, one of those soldiers succumbed to his wounds and died. Nineteen others, we understand, are now back on the job.

KAGAN: Karl Penhaul in Baghdad, thank you for that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com