What to know about the US helicopter that crashed in Iraq
SUMMARY
A US military Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk crashed in western Iraq on March 15, 2018, the Pentagon confirmed March 16, 2018.
"All personnel aboard were killed in the crash," Brig. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, the director of operations of Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a statement. "This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations. We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today."
Also read: US Soldier killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Seven US Air Force airmen are believed to have been onboard during the incident.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, but initial reports indicate the airmen were not on a combat mission and no hostile fire was taken, according to US Defense Department officials. Braga confirmed that the crash did not appear to be caused by enemy fire.
Related: How a Pave Hawk helicopter gets to the War in Afghanistan
The primary role of the HH-60 is to conduct search and rescue operations. As a modified UH-60 Black Hawk, the capabilities of the HH-60 includes various communications and search tools to provide medical evacuations disaster response, and humanitarian assistance.
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