US marine helicopter crashes in Kuwait, 16 killed
( 2003-03-21 11:01 ) (7 )

Two Pave Low helicopters (foreground) take part in a training mission in this April 5, 2001 file photo. A US Marine helicopter crashed in Kuwait Thursday, killing all 16 American and British soldiers aboard. Other two US military helicopters made crash landings in intense operations March 20, 2003 along the Kuwait-Iraq border and one was later destroyed by American warplanes to keep it out of the Iraqi hands. [Reuters]

A CH-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter with British and US soldiers on board has crashed in Kuwait, US defence officials said late Thursday.

"A marine helicopter has gone down in the area of operations," a Pentagon spokesman said, while US television reports claimed there were no survivors from the crew of 16.

The Sea Knight crash was the third incident involving US helicopters since hostilities began 24 hours ago.

An MH-53 Pave Low helicopter of the US Air Force special forces had a heavy landing during operations in southern Iraq. All six crew members survived unscathed.

Later Thursday, a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter experienced similar problems landing in Kuwait. There were no casualties, according to a US official.