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BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. Marine helicopter transporting troops crashed Wednesday in the desert of western Iraq, killing as many as 31 people, American military officials said.
Details about the crash are sketchy and military officials cautioned that the final death toll may be lower. If the number holds, it would be the deadliest single incident involving U.S. troops in Iraq (search).A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, placed the death toll at 31. The official said the helicopter was flying in bad weather but was unable to provide information as to what brought down the aircraft.
A Pentagon source said earlier that the helicopter was a CH-53 Sea Stallion (search), which is normally configured to carry 37 passengers, but can take up to 55. There was no immediate word on how many people were on board.
The helicopter went down about 1:20 a.m. near the town of Rutbah, about 220 miles west of Baghdad, while conducting security operations, the military said in a statement. The aircraft was transporting personnel from the 1st Marine Division (search).
A search and rescue team has reached the site and an investigation into what caused the crash is underway, the military said.
The U.S. military has lost at least 33 helicopters since the March 2003 start of the Iraq conflict, according to a study by the Brookings Institution (search). At least 20 of them were brought down by hostile fire, the institution said.
The deadliest single incident involving U.S. troops until Wednesday took place on Nov. 15, 2003, when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul after colliding while trying to avoid ground fire, killing 17 U.S. soldiers and wounding five.
Earlier that same month, on Nov. 2, 2003, a Chinook transport helicopter was shot down by shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile near Fallujah, killing 16 American soldiers and wounding 26.
Last month, a suicide bomb exploded at a mess tent in a base near Mosul, killing 22 people including 14 U.S. soldiers and three American contractors.
President Bush on Wednesday expressed sorrow at the loss of U.S. Marines in the crash.
He said he didn't have details. "I know that it's being investigated by the Defense Department. Obviously, any time we lose life, it is a sad moment," he said.
Asked about reports that the crash may have been weather-related, Bush said, "I've heard rumors, but let's wait for the facts."
Earlier, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, "We are saddened anytime there is loss of life of our troops in harm's way."
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