Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070822-03
August 22, 2007

Helicopter downed, results in 14 non-battle deaths
Multinational Division-North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – Fourteen Task Force Lightning Soldiers died when the aircraft they were riding went down in northern Iraq Wednesday.

Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were on a night operation when one of the aircraft crashed.  That helicopter had been carrying four crewmembers and 10 passengers. 

Initial indications are that the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction. There were no indications of hostile fire.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Names of the deceased are being withheld pending next of kin notification and release by the Department of Defense.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH AT:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it