List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Iraq War

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The UH-60 Black Hawk that crashed on September 21, 2004

This list of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Iraq War includes accidents and incidents with Coalition and civilian aircraft during the Iraq War.

At least 116 helicopters and 20 fixed-wing aircraft have been lost in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. At least 41 of the crashes have been attributed to hostile fire such as anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. In March 2007, Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt said that 130 helicopters had been lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan, about a third to hostile fire, and he was concerned that they were not being replaced fast enough.[1]

At least 260 personnel have been killed in helicopter crashes since the invasion, and 19 have died in fixed-wing crashes.

The U.S. military said that the average month in 2006 and 2007 saw about 17 attacks against helicopters.[2] Efforts to prevent more deaths included more training for helicopter pilots. In fall 2007, the military deployed the more advanced V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.[3]

Contents

Helicopters

2008

  • November 15 - An OH-58 Kiowa Warrior made a hard landing near Mosul killing the 2 pilots.[4]
  • October 4 - Two American Black Hawk helicopters collide while trying to land in Baghdad. An Iraqi soldier was killed, while two Iraqis and three Americans were injured.[5][6][7]
  • September 18 - A CH-47 Chinook enroute to Balad from Kuwait crashed 62 miles west of Basrah International Airport, killing seven U.S. soldiers.[8][9][10]
  • June 1 - A U.S. helicopter crashed south of Baghdad, injuring two soldiers. The type of helicopter has not been revealed.[11][12]
  • March 27 - An Iraqi military Mil Mi-17 helicopter was shot down during heavy fighting in northern Basra.[13]
  • March 4 - An Iraqi military Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed south of Baiji due to a sandstorm, about 90 miles south of Mosul in northern Iraq, killing an American soldier and seven other people.[14][15][16]

2007

  • November 20 - A RAF HC.1 Puma ZA938 crashes. 2 SAS troopers died after the Puma troop transporter went down in an urban area during a covert mission over Baghdad. Two other men from 22 Special Air Service Regiment were seriously injured in the crash although their condition is not thought to be life threatening. A further seven SAS and three RAF survived the impact and were later rescued by Coalition forces.[17][18][19]
  • August 22 - UH-60L Black Hawk 06-27077 crashed in northern Iraq, killing all 14 U.S. soldiers. The military said initial indications showed the aircraft experienced a mechanical problem.[20]
  • August 14 - CH-47D Chinook 89-00171 from B Company/1-52 Avn crashed near the al-Taqaddum air base west of Baghdad, killing five crew on board.[21][22][23]
  • August 10 - A US Navy HSC-84 HH-60 "Rescue Hawk" made a forced landing in Yusufiyah. The two crew members sustained non-life threatening injuries.[24]
  • July 31 - An AH-64 Apache went down after coming under fire in eastern Baghdad. The two crew members were safely extracted.[25]
  • July 4 - OH-58 Kiowa 95-0002 crashed into power lines in Mosul, killing the pilot and injuring the copilot.[26]
  • July 2 - OH-58D Kiowa 91-0560 from 3-17 CAV was shot down along a canal south of Baghdad in Babil province with small arms, both pilots were rescued by strapping themselves onto the stub wings of an AH-64 Apache. Helicopter was later destroyed.[27][28]
  • May 29 - OH-58D(R) Kiowa 93-0978 from B Troop/2-6 CAV was shot down between Baquba and Muqdadiyah with small arms, killing the chopper's two pilots.[29][30][31]
  • April 15 - Two British Aérospatiale Puma helicopters were involved in a mid-air collision near Taji, north of Baghdad. Both aircraft crashed, with two personnel killed and one seriously injured.[32]
  • April 5 - A UH-60 Black Hawk carrying nine is shot down in Latifiya using anti-aircraft heavy machine guns, 4 were wounded.[33][34][35]
  • March 1 - An OH-58D made a hard landing south of Kirkuk, injuring both crewmembers, and becomes entangled in overhanging wires before hitting the ground.[36] Reports had varied whether the crash was due to a mechanical[37] or electronic failure[38] and whether it was shot down.[39]
  • February 21 - A UH-60 Black Hawk was hit by RPG and small arms fire north of Baghdad and made a hard landing; all nine military personnel on board were rescued.[40]
  • February 7 - CH-46E Sea Knight from HMM-364 shot down, by a shoulder-fired missile, in al-Karma, outside Fallujah, killing all 7 on board.[41][42][43]
  • February 2 - AH-64 Apache 02-5337 from A Company/1-227 Avn, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division shot down, apparently by a combination of gunfire and a shoulder-fired missile, near Taji, killing the two pilots.[44][45][46]
  • January 28 - AH-64 Apache from 4-227th Avn, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division shot down by hostile fire during the Battle of Najaf, killing the two pilots.[47]
  • January 25 - A UH-60 Black Hawk shot down by gunfire near Hit. All aboard survive the incident.[48]
  • January 20 - A UH-60 Black Hawk from C Company/1/131 Avn[49] shot down by a combination of several heavy machine guns and a shoulder-fired missile north-east of Baghdad. All 12 crew and passengers on board are killed in the incident.[50][51]

2006

2005

  • December 26 - An AH-64D Apache 03-5375 from 1-4 Avn collides with another Apache near Baghdad, both crewmembers are killed.[64] Second AH-64 wasn’t destroyed.
  • November 2 - An AH-1W SuperCobra 165321 from HMLA-369 shot down near Ramadi, killing the two pilots.[65]
  • August 30 - An OH-58D(I) Kiowa 90-0037 from 4-3rd ACR crashed in Iraq.
  • August 12 - An AH-64A Apache 90-0442 from C Company/8/229th Avn crashes near Kirkuk, injuring both crewmembers. Helicopter is written off.[66]
  • July 19 - AH-64D Apache 02-5319 from 1-3rd Avn crashes in Iraq, injuring the two pilots. Helicopter is written off.[67]
  • July 2 - A CH-47D Chinook 85-24335 from C Company/159th Avn destroyed in a fire on the ground at Ramadi Camp.[68]
  • June 27 - An AH-64D Apache from 3-3rd Avn is shot down by a shoulder-fired missile near Mishahda, killing the two pilots.[64] [69]
  • May 31 - An Italian AB-412 helicopter crashes near Nasiriyah, killing the four soldiers on board.[70]
  • May 26 - An OH-58D(I) Kiowa 93-0989 from 1-17th CAV is shot down with small arms near Baquba, killing the two crewmen.[71][72]
  • May 21 - A CH-47D Chinook 87-00102 from B Company/4-123rd Avn crashes in Iraq due to failure of both engines. Five crewmen injured. Helicopter was blown in-place.[73]
  • April 17 – AH-64D Apache 03-5370 from 4-3rd ACR made hard landing near Baghdad.[74]
  • January 28 - An OH-58 Kiowa 96-0019 from 1-7th Cav crashes in Baghdad after hitting electrical wires, killing the two crewmen.[71]
  • January 26 - A CH-53E Super Stallion 164536 from HMH-361 crashes in Al-Anbar province, killing 30 U.S. Marines and one Navy sailor.[75][76]

2004

  • December 15 - A PZL W-3WA Sokół 0902 from 25 BKP crashes near Karbala due to pilot error; three Polish soldiers are killed and four injured.[77]
  • December 9 - AH-64A Apache 91-0012 from A Company/1-151st Avn hit a UH-60L Black Hawk 82-23668 from N Company/4-278th ACR on the ground at a Mosul base, killing the two Apache pilots and wounding four soldiers on board the Black Hawk. Both helicopters destroyed.[55]
  • November 12 - UH-60A Black Hawk from 1-106th Avn shot down northeast of Baghdad, wounding three of the four crew members.[78]
  • November 11 - AH-1W SuperCobra 161021 from HMLA-169 was shot down by RPG and small arms fire near Fallujah. It was destroyed by Iraqi rebel forces, crew recovered intact.[79]
  • October 16 - Two OH-58D Kiowas 94-0172 and 97-0130 from 1-25th Avn collide near Baghdad, killing two pilots aboard the first craft, and wounding two aboard the other.[80]
  • September 23 - AH-64D Apache 5292 (B Company/1-227th Avn) crashed near Tallil AB, Iraq when pilot lost control following tail rotor problem.[81]
  • September 21 - UH-60A Black Hawk 87-24579 from A Company/1-244th Avn crashes near Nasiriyah, wounding three crew members.[82]
  • September 8 - CH-46E Sea Knight 153372 crashed and burned out near Al-Buaisa probably because of enemy fire; all four crew members injured.[83]
  • September 4 - OH-58D Kiowa (3-17 CAV) shot down over Tal Afar, Iraq; both pilots safe. Incident highlighted in TV Documentary Kiowa Down.
  • August 11 - CH-53E Super Stallion 164782 from HMM-166 (Reinforced) crashes in the Al-Anbar province, killing two Marines and wounding three others.
  • August 8 – OH-58D(I) Kiowa 96-0015 made emergency landing north of Baghdad after being hit by RPG. Crew unhurt.[84]
  • August 5 - UH-1N Huey 160439 from HMM-166 shot down near Najaf; crew wounded.[85] Helicopter was later written off.[86]
  • July 19 - near Basra, a British HC.1 Aérospatiale Puma XW221 of 33 RAF Squadron crashes, killing one crewman and injuring two others.[87]
  • June 24 - AH-1W SuperCobra 163939 shot down in Fallujah; pilots safe.[88]
  • June 12 - OH-58D(R) Kiowa 94-0171 from A Co/1-25th Avn crashes north of Baghdad; both pilots safe.[89]
  • April 26 – CH-46E Sea Knight 153389 from HMM-161 made hard landing in brownout conditions in Al Anbar province; took additional damage during transportation and later was written off.[90]
  • April 26 - OH-58D(I) Kiowa 91-0567 from P Troop/4/2nd ACR made emergency landing at Kut after engine problem and burned out. Both crewmembers safe.[28]
  • April 16 - CH-47D Chinook 92-0301 from C Company/193rd Avn (Hawaii Air National Guard) made hard landing during sandstorm and was later destroyed. Crewmemers safe.[91]
  • April 12 - MH-53M Pave Low 69-5797 of 16th SOW/20th SOS shot down by RPG near Fallujah, three on board are wounded. Helicopter was later destroyed.[92][93]
  • April 11 - An AH-64D Apache 02-5301 from C Company, 1-227 AVN shot down west of Baghdad, killing both pilots.
  • April 7 - OH-58D Kiowa crashes near Baquba after being hit by ground fire; pilots rescued.
  • March 30 - Two AH-1W SuperCobras 163947 and 164595 of HMLA-775 collide near Al Taqaddum, Iraq; pilots rescued. Both helicopters destroyed.[88][53]
  • February 25 - OH-58D(R) Kiowa 97-0124 crashed in Iraq with 4-3rd ACR, after striking electrical wires west of Baghdad, killing the two pilots.[71][94]
  • January 25 - A OH-58D Kiowa (93-0957) from 3-17 CAV crashes into the Tigris River during a rescue mission, after hitting electrical wires, killing both pilots.[71]
  • January 23 - A OH-58D Kiowa (93-0950) from 3-17 CAV crashes just after take-off outside Mosul, killing both pilots.[71]
  • January 13 - AH-64 Apache from 4-3 CAV shot down near Habbaniyah, pilots rescued.
  • January 8 - A UH-60 Black Hawk (86-24488) from 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) shot down near Fallujah, killing 9 crew and passengers.[95]
  • January 2 - An OH-58D Kiowa 90-0370 from 1-17 CAV (assigned to 1-82 Avn) shot down near Fallujah, killing a pilot.[71]
  • January 1 – UH-60L Black Hawk 93-26514 (4-1091st AVN) made hard landing.[96]

2003

  • December 11 - AH-64D Apache from 1-101st Avn crash-landed due to the APU clutch failing and starting a fire in flight and subsequently burned to the ground 15 miles (24 km) south of Mosul. The pilots survived.[97]
  • December 9 - An OH-58 Kiowa helicopter is hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, forcing a crash landing. Both crewmembers survive.[98]
  • November 25 - OH-58D Kiowa 96-0040 crashed after its tail rotor struck ground.[99]
  • November 21 – OH-58D Kiowa 92-0605 from D Troop 1/17 CAV written off, reason unknown.[91]
  • November 15 - Mosul, two UH-60L Black Hawks from 4-101 Avn (93-26531) and 9-101 Avn (94-26548) collide and crash after one aircraft coming under fire; 6 and 11 soldiers (crew and passengers) on board are killed, respectively, and 5 others on board the first AC are injured.[100]
  • November 7 - UH-60L Black Hawk 92-26413 (or 92-26431) from 5-101 Avn shot down by a MANPAD near Tikrit; all four crew, and both passengers from the Department of the Army are killed.[101]
  • November 2 - near Fallujah, CH-47D Chinook 91-0230 of Detachment 1/F Company/106th Avn shot down with an SA-7 missile; 16 soldiers killed, 26 wounded.[102]
  • October 30 - AH-64D Apache 00-5211 (ex AH-64A 86-9009) of 6-6th Cav crashed near Balad AAF, Iraq, and burned out. Both crewmembers are safe.[103]
  • October 25 - UH-60L Black Hawk crashes and burns out after reportedly being hit by an RPG near Tikrit, 5 soldiers injured.[104]
  • October 23 - AH-64D Apache 00-5219 (ex AH-64A 86-8972) from 1-101st Avn crashed in Iraq while approaching to land at Kirkuk. The APU clutch failed and started a fire in flight. Aircraft landed safely but fuselage was almost completely burnt through.[103]
  • October 13 - OH-58D (93-0991) from C Troop, 1/17th CAV crashed inside Iraq, pilots survive.
  • October 7 - OH-58D Kiowa (92-0578) crashed inside Iraq, pilots survive.[91]
  • September 2 - A soldier is killed as a UH-60L Black Hawk from 2-501 Avn rolls over during a nighttime troop insertion southwest of Baghdad.[105]
  • August 28 - CH-47D Chinook 88-0098 from F Company/159th Avn written off in Iraq.
  • August 14 - AH-64D Apache 01-5241 (ex AH-64A 87-0507) of 1-14th Avn crashed in Iraq.[106]
  • June 19 – AH-64A Apache 87-0498 of R Company, 4-3 ACR made hard landing following inflight fire. Helicopter was written off.[107]
  • June 12 - AH-64D Apache of 101st Avn helicopter shot down near Baghdad, both crewmembers survive.[108]
  • May 19 - CH-46E Sea Knight 156424 of HMM-364 crashes in Al-Hilla, killing four Marines; another Marine drowns trying to rescue the crew.[109]
  • May 9 - UH-60A Black Hawk 86-24507 of 571st Medical Company (AA) crashes into Tigris River, killing two pilots and crew chief.[110]
  • May 6 - OH-58D Kiowa 94-0163 of N Troop 4-3 ACR crashes near Al Asad and burns out. One crewmember injured.[111]
  • April 30 - A Marine CH-53E Super Stallion 162486 of HMH-465 crashes near Najaf and burns out. Crew escaped.[85]
  • April 14 - A Marine AH-1W SuperCobra 163940 of HMLA-169 crashes near Samarra, injuring both pilots. Helicopter was later destroyed.[88]
  • April 6 - UH-60 Blackhawk 93-26522 from B Co/4-101st Avn crashes inside Iraq, crew survive.[112]
  • April 5 - AH-1W SuperCobra 161020 of HMLA-267 crashes, killing both pilots.[113]
  • April 2 - A UH-60A Black Hawk (94-26557) of B Company/2-3rd Avn is shot down near Karbala, killing 7 soldiers and injuring 4 more.[114]
  • March 31 - AH-64D Apache 84-24201 of C Company/1-3rd Avn crashes on landing in Iraq, injuring the two pilots. Helicopter was written off.[115]
  • March 30 - UH-1N Huey 160620 of HMLA-169 crashes; three die.[116]
  • March 28 - Two AH-64D Apaches, 97-5032 (A Co) and 98-5068 (B Co) of 2-101st Avn crash in Iraq; one pilot injured.[117]
  • March 28 - OH-58D Kiowa 95-0006 from A Troop/2-17th Cav crashes in Iraq, pilots survive.
  • March 27 - OH-58D Kiowa 95-0024 from C Troop/2-17th Cav crashes in Iraq, pilots survive.
  • March 26 - UH-1N Huey 160444 of HMLA-269 made hard landing in sandstorm and was written off.[85]
  • March 23 - AH-64D Apache 85-25407 from C Company/1-227th Avn shot down during attack on Republican Guard; two pilots taken prisoner.[118] Helicopter was later destroyed by Coalition aviation.
  • March 22 - Two Royal Navy ASaC.7 Sea Kings XV650 'CU-182' and XV704 'R-186' of 849 Squadron/A Flight collide over the Persian Gulf, killing six British soldiers and one American.[119]
  • March 20 - CH-46E Sea Knight 152579 of HMM-268 crashes in Kuwait 9 kilometres from Iraqi border, killing eight British Marines of 42 CDO and four Marines.[104]
  • March 19 - MH-53M Pave Low 67-14993 of 20th SOS carrying special forces crashes in southern Iraq. No one is killed. The craft was later destroyed to prevent capture.[120]

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

  • June 27, 2008 - A C-130 Hercules was damaged beyond repair in an emergency landing northeast of Baghdad International Airport. All 38 on board were transported to nearby Sather Air Base for medical evaluation. The aircraft was significantly damaged in the landing, and was deemed a write-off and destroyed.[121][122]
  • January 7, 2008 - Two F/A-18 fighter jets crashed during an Iraq-related mission in the Gulf, pilots rescued[123]
  • July 16, 2007 - A US F-16 crashed. The pilot survived. The crash was an accident.[124]
  • June 15, 2007 - A US F-16 crashed on takeoff. The pilot was killed and the cause is under investigation.[125][126]
  • February 11, 2007 - A British C-130 Hercules was destroyed by coalition forces after being heavily damaged in a night landing in southern Iraq; two were injured. The aircraft was struck by two improvised explosive devices placed by insurgents, upon landing at a temporary runway in Maysan Province.[127][128]
  • November 27, 2006 - F-16C/J (90-0776) from the 524th Fighter Squadron crashes near Fallujah while on a low-altitude ground-strafing run. The pilot, Major Troy Gilbert, was killed.[129]
  • May 2, 2005 - Two F/A-18C Block 39/40 Hornet fighter jets of VMFA-323, BuNos 164721 and 164732, collide over south-central Iraq, during a sortie from USS Carl Vinson, killing the two pilots.[130]
  • January 30, 2005 - A British C-130K Hercules C.1P XV179 was shot down north of Baghdad, killing 9 Royal Air Force crew and one British soldier.[131][132]
  • December 29, 2004 - An American Special Forces MC-130H Hercules (c/n 382-5054, 16th SOW, 15th SOS) is written off while landing on Q-West airfield near Mosul, Iraq, though no one was hurt. The pilot was unaware a large pit had been dug in the runway.[133]
  • June 12, 2003 - F-16CG A United States Air Force F-16C Block 40B Fighting Falcon 88-0424 of 388th FW/421st FS crashes near Baghdad due to fuel starvation. The pilot ejected safely.
  • April 8, 2003 - A-10A 78-0691 of 124th Wing/190th FS shot down by Roland SAM; pilot survived.[134]
  • April 7, 2003 - F-15E 88-1694/SJ of 4th FW/333rd FS shot down, both the pilot and Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) were killed.
  • April 2, 2003 - F/A-18C Block 46 Hornet 164974 of VFA-195 was shot down by a US Patriot missile, killing the pilot.[135][136]
  • April 1, 2003 - F-14A Tomcat 158620 'NF-104' of VF-154 crashes; the pilots survive.[137][138]
  • April 1, 2003 - AV-8B+(R) Harrier 165391 of HMM-263 crashes off USS Nassau; the pilot was rescued.[137] [139]
  • April 1, 2003 - S-3A Viking 160584 of VS-38 crashes off USS Constellation; two pilots survive.[137][140]
  • March 23, 2003 - Tornado GR.4A ZG710 'D' of 13 Squadron was shot down by a US Patriot missile, killing the pilot and navigator, both from 9 Squadron.[135]

Other aircraft

Several civilian and other aircraft have crashed in Iraq as well:

  • November 13, 2008 - An Antonov An-12 crashes after takeoff from Al Asad Air Base, killing all 7 crew members.[141] Six members of the crew and one passenger died, three of them were Russians. The crew also consisted of a Belarusian, two Ukrainians and an Indian citizen.[142]
  • March 7, 2007 - A privately-contracted helicopter from the Republic of Georgia crashed due to technical failures, injuring its three Ukrainian crewmembers, and several Iraqi passengers.[143]
  • January 31, 2007 - A Blackwater USA Bell 412 helicopter was downed under hostile fire near Karma during a flight between Al Hillah and Baghdad. A US military helicopter rescued the passengers and crew.[144][145]
  • January 23, 2007 - A Blackwater USA MD 530F helicopter participating in Coalition operations shot down by hostile fire in Baghdad. All of the 4 man crew are killed in the incident, likely executed after surviving the crash. The remaining survivor is also killed under unclear circumstances, when another Blackwater helicopter descends to the crash site.[146][147]
  • January 9, 2007 - A Moldovan Antonov An-26 crashes near Balad in the 2007 Balad aircraft crash, killing 34 of the 35 on board.
  • May 30, 2005 - A Comp Air 7SL aircraft with the Iraqi Air Force crashed in eastern Iraq, killing four Americans and an Iraqi on board.[148]
  • April 21, 2005 - A Bulgarian Mil Mi-8 was shot down north of Baghdad, killing the 11 civilians on board, including six American contractors, three Bulgarian pilots, one of them was executed shortly after the crash, and two Fijian guards.[149][150][151]

Summary per type

Rotary-wing losses

116 (40 to hostile fire)

Type #
AH-64 Apache 26
OH-58 Kiowa 24
UH-60 Black Hawk 21
AH-1W Super Cobra 8
CH-47 Chinook 7
CH-46 Sea Knight 6
CH-53E Super Stallion 4
SA 330 Puma 4
SH-3 Sea King 2
MH-53 Pave Low 2
UH-1N Huey 2
Agusta Bell-412 2
Mil Mi-17 2
AH-6M Little Bird 1
CH-53D Sea Stallion 1
Westland Lynx 1
Mil Mi-24 Hind 1
Mil Mi-8 Hip 1
MD530F 1
PZL W-3WA Sokół 1

Fixed-wing losses

21 (*3 to hostile fire, **2 to friendly fire)

Type #
F/A-18 Hornet 5/1**
F-16 Falcon 4
C-130 Hercules 3/1*
A-10 Warthog 1*
AV-8 Harrier 1
F-14 Tomcat 1
F-15E Strike Eagle 1*
S-3 Viking 1
Tornado GR4 1**
Aerocomp Comp Air 7 1
Antonov An-26 1

Note: Numerous crashes involving unmanned aircraft and drones are not included in the lists above.

Summary per year

Year # Hostile fire
2008 7 2
2007 19 10
2006 14 6
2005 13 4
2004 29 10
2003 34 9
Total 116 41

See also

Iraq War portal

References