British Military Plane Crashes in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A British C-130 military transport plane crashed Sunday north of Baghdad, the British Defense Ministry said. A U.S. military official said the plane’s wreckage was scattered over a large area but had no immediate word on casualties.

The crash occurred at around 5:25 p.m. about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, said a ministry spokesman. He had no further details. C-130s can carry well over 100 people, though the number on the flight was not announced.

A senior U.S. military officer said earlier that the Hercules aircraft was en route from Baghdad to Balad when it crashed. The officer said the plane’s wreckage was scattered over a large area.

Helicopters were at the scene and observing the wreckage, the military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Britain’s Royal Air Force flies several versions of the American-built C-130 Hercules aircraft, which is mainly used to carry troops, passengers and freight. The older C-130K model has a crew of five or six and carries up to 128 troops. The newer C-130J version has a crew of three and can also carry up to 128 infantry. The RAF has some 60 Hercules aircraft, about half of which are newer planes.

The British military has reported 76 deaths since the start of the Iraq war. Six British crew members and on American were killed when two Royal Navy helicopters crashed over the northern Persian Gulf on March 22, 2003.