A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed today in Iraq's Anbar province with two Marines on board during a maintenance test flight, U.S. military officials said.
Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing crewmembers.
"We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades," Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas said.
The incident is under investigation. However officials said it does not appear to be a result of enemy action.
Also in Anbar province, a Marine assigned to 2/28 Brigade Combat Team died yesterday due to enemy action. The name of the Marine is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
DoD officials have identified three servicemembers previously reported killed in Iraq.
Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin A. Lucas, 20, of Greensboro, N.C., died yesterday while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Army Pfc. Caleb A. Lufkin, 24, of Knoxville, Ill., died May 25 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here of injuries suffered May 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 mine protected vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. Lufkin was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Marine Pfc. Steven W. Freund, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died May 23, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Defense Department news releases.)
Story by American Forces Press Service