US Air Force identifies seven killed in Iraq helicopter crash
WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force identified seven men who died in a helicopter crash in western Iraq on Thursday.
Those killed were Mark Weber, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Andreas O'Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, New York; Christopher Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City, New York; Christopher Raguso, 39, of Commack, New York; Dashan Briggs, 30, of Port Jefferson Station, New York; William Posch, 36, of Indialantic, Florida; and Carl Enis, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida.
It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the deaths of Lt. Christopher J. Raguso and Fire Marshal Christopher T. Zanetis. Lt. Raguso and Fire Marshal Zanetis died in an American military helicopter crash in Iraq on Thursday, March 15. Read more: https://t.co/n15usUsTaLpic.twitter.com/3LNqHBowxn
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 16, 2018
There were no survivors of the crash, the Department of Defense said in an earlier statement.
The crash, which did not appear to be the result of enemy activity, is under investigation, the U.S. Central Command said in an earlier statement.
US troops in Iraq
The military said a second accompanying American helicopter immediately reported the crash and Iraqi security forces and coalition members secured the area.
Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity and citing initial reports, said on Thursday the aircraft crashed near al-Qaim, a town in Anbar province close to the Syrian border.
The United States says it has about 5,200 troops in Iraq that are part of a coalition fighting Islamic State militants. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson Editing by Chris Reese)