Military sources say the death
toll could rise to 15 after the C-130 Hercules crashed 40
kilometres (25 miles) north west of Baghdad. It is the biggest
single loss of life for UK troops since arriving in Iraq.
The Hercules, based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, crashed
in fine conditions at 1640 local time (1340 GMT) en route
from Baghdad to Balad, which houses one of the largest US
air bases in Iraq.
Balad is home to about 25,000 US troops and has been the
frequent target of mortar attacks by Iraqi insurgents. US
and UK forces secured the site of the crash, which happened
on the day of Iraq's first multi-party election for decades.
However, the investigation could be difficult in the hostile
territory. There are no British troops usually based in Balad
and the purpose of the flight was unclear. Some British newspapers
have speculated that the plane was carrying Special Air Service
(SAS) personnel but there has been no official confirmation.
Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason told BBC News it was "theoretically
possible" there were SAS men on board, but that the MoD
would never confirm that if it was the case.
He said the circumstances of the crash were a coincidence,
and that bearing in mind the high level of training of a Hercules
crew and the reports suggesting wreckage was spread over a
wide area, enemy action was a possibility. "My concern
is it could very well be hostile action."
The RAF routinely flies between Baghdad and the British headquarters
in the southern city of Basra. The BBC's Clarence Mitchell
said the weather in the region was fine and, given the good
safety record of the plane, the "chances of it being
hostile action against it are increasing". On Sunday
Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the troops killed,
saying: "This country and the wider world will never
forget them."
Wing Commander Nigel Arnold of RAF Lyneham said they were
in the process of contacting the families of those involved
and refused to speculate on the cause. "The welfare of
these families is our priority at the moment."
US President George W Bush has also paid tribute to the soldiers
killed, as polls opened across Iraq for its first free election
in more than 50 years. He said: "Some Iraqis were killed
while exercising their rights as citizens. "We also mourn
the American and British military personnel who lost their
lives today. Their sacrifices were made in a vital cause of
freedom, peace in troubled region, and a more secure future
for us all."
Hercules planes have an excellent safety record, according
to aviation expert Paul Beaver of Jane's Defence Weekly. The
US-built troop carrier is used by both British and US forces.
British military chiefs have used the plane as a "workhorse"
to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and humanitarian relief.
It is the favoured aircraft of the SAS and is regarded as
being especially of use in Iraq for its ability to land in
desert conditions. |
