MoD Information

UK Troops Killed in Helo Crash

Fri, March 21, 2003

Source: Ananova News

A helicopter carrying British and US troops has crashed in Kuwait killing everyone on board.

A helicopter carrying British and US troops has crashed in Kuwait killing everyone on board.The US Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of Umm Qasr, around nine miles south of the Iraqi border, at 3am local time.

Up to 12 British soldiers are feared dead, while four US personnel have been confirmed as fatalities by US Central Command in Qatar.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "UK fatalities have been reported. Their next of kin are being informed.

"We have no reason to believe at this time that hostile fire was responsible."

There were believed to have been 16 military personnel on board in total, but the MoD could not confirm the exact numbers.

The twin-rotor helicopter was carrying troops involved in the push for the southern Iraqi port of Basra.

Military sources said the crash was believed to be an accident.

A US military source said: "There were no US survivors. The names and units of the casualties are being withheld pending next of kin notification."

British Royal Marines and US Marines have been spearheading a ground invasion towards Basra but there has been no confirmation that they were among the dead.