Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Donate Shop PBS Search PBS

Online NewsHour Update
Online NewsHour

Cobra Gunship April 5, 2003, 8:11am EST
TWO MARINES KILLED IN CENTRAL IRAQ HELICOPTER CRASH

As fighting continued throughout central Iraq, two U.S. Marines were killed in a helicopter gunship crash Saturday, U.S. Central Command reported.

NewsHour Links

Online NewsHour Special Report:
The Iraq War

"Two Marine pilots were killed in the crash of their AH-1W "Super Cobra" attack helicopter in central Iraq at approximately 12:19 a.m Saturday morning (8:19 a.m. Iraq time)," Central Command said in a statement. "Preliminary indications are that the crash was not a result of hostile fire. The cause of the crash is under investigation."

U.S. authorities said they would not release the names of those killed until their next-of-kin had been notified.

The heavily armored, two-seat Super Cobra is used to attack tanks and ground targets and used to aid U.S. forces.

"The Marines depend on attack helicopters to provide close-in fire support coordination in serial and ground escort operations," a Federation of American Scientist Web site on the Cobra said.

The helicopter is also built to withstand small arms fire and other gunfire from the ground.

The PBS NewsHour is Funded in part by: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Additional Foundation and Corporate Sponsors
Program
Support
From:
Copyright © 1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.