I read Reuters site not controlled by Pentagon:
asia.reuters.com
Missile Downs U.S. FA-18 Hornet Over Iraq -Networks
Wed April 2, 2003 10:44 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. FA-18 Hornet fighter-bomber has been shot down over southern Iraq by a surface-to-air missile, U.S. television networks reported on Wednesday.
Fox News Channel and ABC News said the fate of the pilot from the carrier-based aircraft was not known.
Pentagon officials had no immediate comment on the reports.
Elmat's Comments: The US controls 95% of the Iraqi air space, according to CNN. I was wondering about the remaining 5%. It seems if someone venture into the 5%, is shot down.
U.S. Chopper Down in Iraq; Confusion Over Casualties
Wed April 2, 2003 10:17 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter has been shot down by small arms fire in southern Iraq, killing seven and wounding four on board, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.
The official at the Pentagon, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the helicopter was shot down near Kerbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, early on Thursday Iraqi time.
But Central Command in Tampa, Florida, issued a contradictory statement, saying the Black Hawk was downed at about 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday and that initial reports put the number of people on board at six.
The Central Command statement said there was no confirmation of casualties.
There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancies in information from the Pentagon and from Central Command.
The Pentagon official said search and rescue personnel were at the scene where the craft came down, adding: "They were pulling people out." The Black Hawk had been carrying 11 personnel, the official said.
The Black Hawk was the second U.S. helicopter lost in combat since U.S. and British forces invaded Iraq two weeks ago. An Apache gunship went down last week and its two crew members were captured by Iraqi forces. |
