4 Marines killed in Iraq crash

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Four Marines were killed in Iraq yesterday when their CH-46 helicopter crashed near the city of Karbala, U.S. defense officials said. A fifth Marine was missing and feared dead after attempting to rescue them.

“There was no indication of hostile fire,” said a defense official, who asked not to be identified.

The CH-46 crashed in a canal or waterway near Karbala with four Marines aboard.

“At this point we believe the crew of four did not survive,” another defense official said.

“A fifth Marine observed the crash, went in to try to rescue them, and didn’t survive either,” he said.

It was not clear what happened to that Marine.

“We just have early reports. There are still a lot of questions,” the official said.