Helicopter Downed in Iraq, Nine Dead

"BAGHDAD, April 21 (Reuters) - An Mi-8 commercial helicopter was shot down in Iraq on Thursday and all nine people aboard are believed to have been killed, U.S. military sources said.

The Russian-built aircraft was flying just north of Baghdad when it was hit, possibly by a rocket-propelled grenade, one source said. Reuters Television received footage of a helicopter that had been shot down in the area and which was still on fire. Military sources said three crew and six passengers, all civilians, were on board.

'It was a contract aircraft that was not being used by the military, although the Mi-8 is also a military helicopter,' the source in Iraq said. 'We are trying to investigate right now what happened, but we believe it was shot by small arms fire, possibly by a rocket-propelled grenade,' he said."