Sudden, strong sand storms brought down helicopter – MOD

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Airforce helicopter that went down in Karbala yesterday crashed because of sudden and strong sand storms, the spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MOD) said on Wednesday. “The helicopter was in a combat surveillance mission,” Mohammed al-Askari told IraqiNews.com news agency. He pointed out that investigations are underway to learn more details about the crash. Earlier, a security source said that the Iraqi Airforce helicopter that went down in Karbala yesterday crashed because of sand storms, explaining that its 5-member crew was all killed in the incident. “The helicopter had a malfunction that coincided with a stand storm,” the security source told IraqiNews.com news agency. He illuminated that the pilot tried to land the helicopter, but he lost control and the crash occurred. A local source said that sand storms or a malfunction caused an Iraqi helicopter to crash yesterday near the al-Ibrahimiya Camp, east of Karbala city. “The helicopter crashed near the al-Ibrahimiya Camp, 5 km east of Karbala city,” the local source told IraqiNews.com news agency. He noted that the helicopter’s crew consisted of six persons, who all died in the crash. The al-Iraqiya state-run TV station reported the crash saying that an Iraqi helicopter went down in Karbala, and that the crew is dead. The holy city of Karbala lies 110 km southwest of Baghdad. MH (S)/SR 2