British helicopters collide over Gulf, 7 killed

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar ”€ Two Royal Navy helicopters collided Saturday over the Persian Gulf, killing seven on board -- six British and a U.S. Navy officer, military officials said.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Ben Owens said the U.S. Navy officer was among the seven on board who died. The rest were British.

The two Sea King helicopters were not struck by enemy fire, said Group Capt. Al Lockwood, a spokesman for British forces in the Persian Gulf.

"I have just had a report that all those on the helicopters have perished,'' Lockwood said. "It's a great tragedy.''

The helicopters crashed about 4:30 a.m. local time, just after taking off from a ship in the Persian Gulf, officials said. The cause was under investigation.

"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,'' Lockwood said. "Sadly last night something was not quite right and we are looking to find out what that was as quickly as possible.''

The accident is the second involving coalition helicopters since the U.S.-led campaign began.

Eight British Royal Marines and four American Marines died when a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed before dawn in Kuwait on Friday.

Lt. -Col. Ben Curry, a British Royal Marines spokesman, said that crash occurred as troops were being deployed to seize oil fields on the Al Faw peninsula in southern Iraq.

Manufactured by AgustaWestland in Britain, the Sea King was developed for the Royal Navy and has been in service for more than 25 years.

There are more than 300 in service with both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. They are also used by military in Australia, Egypt, Germany, India and Pakistan.

Source Press:
CTV
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