A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed Saturday in Iraq's Anbar province with two Marines on board during a maintenance test flight, U.S. military officials said.

Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing crewmembers.

"We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades," Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas said.

The incident is under investigation. However officials said it does not appear to be a result of enemy action.

According to sources at the 3rd MAW, the wing is equippd with AH-1W Super Cobras. The AH-1W Super Cobra is a day/night marginal weather Marine Corps attack helicopter that provides enroute escort for USMC assault helicopters and their embarked forces.

The AH-1W is a two-place, tandem-seat, twin-engine helicopter capable of land- or sea-based operations. The AH-1W provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore.

The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The AH-1W is currently being outfitted with a Night Targeting System/Forward Looking Infrared Radar that provides laser rangefinding/designating and camera capabilities.

FMI: www.mnf-iraq.com