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7 Killed as Sea King's CollideSat, March 22, 2003Source: Ananova NewsSix British servicemen and a US officer were killed when two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided in mid-air in the Gulf.Six British servicemen and a US officer were killed when two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided in mid-air in the Gulf. The Airborne Early Warning helicopters were based on the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The crash happened over international waters. Ark Royal's captain, Alan Massey, said it appeared to be a "tragic accident" and that the loss of the crews was a "huge loss". A Pentagon spokesman said today that one of the victims was a US Navy officer. A British forces spokesman confirmed all seven people on the aircraft had perished. He said: "I have just had a report that all those on the helicopters have perished. "Circumstances are such that accidents of this type can happen. It's a great tragedy. "Certainly there must have been extenuating circumstances and our investigators are into the process of trying to establish the facts. "There is a lot of air activity. However, we do have very careful plans and procedures to ensure we have separation of all of the aircraft being used. "Sadly last night something was not quite right and we are looking to find out what that was as quickly as possible." |
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