Security Company Aircraft Possibly Flying Convoy Escort

US Military forces are investigating the crash of a helicopter, described by the Associated Press as a small surveillance helicopter, believed to be a version of the Hughes Defender (file photo of type to right), in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood of Baghdad Tuesday.

According to AP sources, the chopper, owned by private security company Blackwater USA, was likely flying as aerial escort for a VIP convoy on the ground.

Details are still confused, but witnesses on the ground near the incident told AP the helicopter went down after coming under small arms fire from the ground -- a version of the incident backed up by statements from senior Iraqi military officials. This report is disputed a US military official in Washington who says there is no evidence the aircraft was shot down.

That same high-level, Iraqi military official told the AP four of the five security personnel killed had been shot in the head execution-style, but didn't confirm the wounds were the cause of death.

A statement from Blackwater USA confirms five of its American employees in Iraq were killed without providing further details.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad Wednesday offered condolences to the families of the killed Americans during a round-table discussion at the US embassy adding, "We had a very bad day yesterday. We lost five fine men."

Blackwater USA contracts with the US State Department providing security services for officials in Iraq. It also conducts military training and has corporate clients around the world.

Blackwater's statement read in part, "These untimely deaths are a reminder of the extraordinary circumstances under which our professionals voluntarily serve to bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people."

This is the second helicopter downed near Baghdad in less than four days. As ANN reported, a US military Black Hawk went down northeast of the Iraqi capital killing all 12 service members aboard. Military officials on the ground in Iraq haven't confirmed a Pentagon official's statement that debris at the crash site shows evidence the craft went down under fire from a shoulder-launched missile.

FMI: www.blackwaterusa.com, www.state.gov, www.pentagon.mil