Pentagon Looks For Answers In Iraq Helicopter Downings | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.14.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Wed, Jan 18, 2006

Pentagon Looks For Answers In Iraq Helicopter Downings

Are Insurgents Using New Methods To Target US Aircraft?

In the wake of three recent fatal downings of US helicopters in Iraq, the Pentagon is investigating the possibility insurgents are utilizing new methods to target the helicopters, a senior Defense Department official said Tuesday.

"Is there a pattern? Certainly, in recent weeks three helicopters have gone down. Nothing has been ruled in or out in any of those three cases yet," DoD spokesman Lawrence Di Rita told Pentagon reporters in a news conference

Twelve US servicemembers and four civilians were killed as the result of three separate helicopter crashes that occurred in Iraq this month.

As was reported in Aero-News, two US soldiers died Monday when their AH-64 Apache helicopter (file photo, above) went down north of Taji. Two US soldiers were killed January 13 when their OH-58D Kiowa recon helicopter (file photo, center) crashed in Mosul. Both incidents are believed to have been caused by ground fire.

Eight soldiers and four civilians were killed January 7, when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter (file photo, below) crashed near Tal Afar. Officials previously believed poor weather was the reason for that accident... although no official determination has been reached.

Di Rita told reporters military aviation experts are examining whether the terrorists are targeting US helicopters by some new means.

"Is there a new threat out there that we need to be more aware of?" Di Rita asked, while also cautioning the media not to jump to any conclusions.

"The first reports are very often wrong," Di Rita said.

(Aero-News thanks Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service)

FMI: www.defenselink.mil

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.16.24): Instrument Runway

Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.16.24)

Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]

Airborne 05.15.24: Ghost Sq MidAir, B-2 Junked, Dream Chaser Readies

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.16.24: PRA Runway, Wag-Aero Sold, Young Eagles

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC