U.S. military helicopter makes 'hard landing' in Anbar, injuring 18

A CH-53E Super Stallion

BAGHDAD, Iraq: A U.S. Marine helicopter carrying 21 people made a hard landing in volatile Anbar province on Monday, injuring 18, the military said. It was the third U.S. military aircraft to go down in the province in two weeks.

The U.S. command said enemy action did not appear to be the cause of the problem suffered at 12 noon Monday by the Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter while conducting a routine passenger and cargo flight.

Eighteen people were injured, including nine who were quickly treated and returned to duty, the U.S. command said in a brief statement. It did not provide the exact location in Anbar province where the hard landing occurred, saying it was being investigated..

On Dec. 3, a Sea Knight helicopter carrying 16 Marines went down in a lake in Anbar, killing four of them. The twin-rotor CH-46 helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing made the emergency landing near the shore of Lake Qadisiyah "in which the pilots maintained control of the aircraft the entire time," the military said.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

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