Heli crash kills 7 U.S. soldiers

BAGHDAD – Seven American soldiers were killed in southern Iraq early Thursday when their helicopter crashed as it flew into Iraq from Kuwait. Military officials said they suspect a mechanical problem was to blame after ruling out hostile fire.

The CH-47 Chinook was flying in a four-helicopter formation to the U.S. military base at Balad, north of Baghdad, when it crashed shortly after midnight in the desert about 60 miles west of Basra, the military said.

In Washington, a Pentagon official said officials suspect a malfunction on the Chinook.
The military said the seven who died were the only people on board. The Chinook, the Army’s workhorse, is designed to transport troops and supplies to combat and other regions.