U.S. helicopter fired on in Iraq, crashes

By Andrew Marshall

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. helicopter has crashed in Iraq after being shot at and the fate of its crew remains unknown, the U.S. military said in a statement on Friday.

It said two helicopters received small arms fire near Baquba 60 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad on Thursday night.

One sustained damage but landed safely at a U.S. base and the "other aircraft crashed and the status of the aircrew is unknown at this time," the statement said.

"Coalition forces responded to the scene and secured the site," it said.

A defense official at the Pentagon in Washington said the aircraft was an OH-58 Kiowa, a single-engine two-seater helicopter.

Semper Fi