Super Cobra Down In Iraq, Chinook Allegedly Fired On In Pakistan

Two incidents involving US helicopters -- one with fatalities -- in Iraq and Pakistan share a common thread of potentially involving ground fire, although neither case can be confirmed.

In Iraq Wednesday, a US Marine AH-1W Super Cobra (file photo of type, right) went down near Ramadi, west of Baghdad, killing the two soldiers onboard. The cause of the incident has yet to be determined and is currently under investigation, although witnesses claim the copter came under fire from the ground before it went down, according to Reuters.

"The incident occurred while the two-man crew was flying in support of security and stabilization operations," the U.S. statement said.

In a separate incident the day before, a CH-47 Chinook (below) participating in relief flights in Pakistan is believed to have come under fire by a rocket-propelled grenade as the helicopter ferried supplies to earthquake victims in the town of Chakoti -- near the disputed Indian/Pakistani border in the Himalayas.

"The aircraft was not hit and returned safely with its crew," said Capt. Rob Newell, spokesman for US military relief efforts in the region, to the Associated Press.

While the US pledged to continue supply flights in the region as needed, a Pakistani army spokesman claimed no grenade was launched at the US helicopter, instead claiming the crew may have heard explosive charges used by engineers nearby to clear a road.

"The blast was huge enough to kick up dust, which the pilot probably misunderstood as rocket fire," Pakistani spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said, adding Pakistani soldiers found no evidence of a rocket launch after searching the area after the reported attack, and witnesses on the ground did not see a rocket attack.

Even as most Pakistanis have expressed gratitude for U.S. help, rumors have increasingly circulated in the region that U.S. troops are taking the opportunity to take pictures of Pakistan's nuclear facilities, or to search for al-Qaida militants.

FMI: www.marines.mil