American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, DC, December 27, 2005, Two American pilots were killed December 26, in a helicopter accident in western Baghdad, Iraq, military officials reported today.

No hostile fire was involved with the accident that killed the two Task Force Baghdad helicopter pilots, a Multinational Force Iraq statement said.

The names of the dead are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Coalition aircraft flew 38 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom on December 26. U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-16s destroyed an enemy position near Balad, using three precision-guided munitions.

U.S. Air Force Boeing F-15s provided close-air support to coalition troops in near Salman Pak. In addition, 13 U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

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