Iraqi plane goes down over ISIS-held territory
An Iraqi Air Force turbo-prop aircraft crashed in northwestern Kirkuk on Wednesday while on a “reconnaissance and combat mission” over Islamic State-held territory.
Five people were aboard, two pilots and three crew members. An Iraqi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, told Reuters that an investigation is underway to determine if the plane crashed as a result of a mechanical failing or was shot down by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
A pro-ISIS outlet, Amaq news, published a video purporting to show the plane falling to the ground in the Hawija region as ISIS members cheered. Subsequent shots showed the wreckage and the bodies scattered around it. However it did not show ground fire bringing the plane down.
A Jordanian Air Force F-16 suffered a technical malfunction over a year ago and crashed in Syria. Its pilot was subsequently captured by ISIS and infamously burned alive by them in a cage.
Five people were aboard, two pilots and three crew members. An Iraqi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, told Reuters that an investigation is underway to determine if the plane crashed as a result of a mechanical failing or was shot down by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
A pro-ISIS outlet, Amaq news, published a video purporting to show the plane falling to the ground in the Hawija region as ISIS members cheered. Subsequent shots showed the wreckage and the bodies scattered around it. However it did not show ground fire bringing the plane down.
A Jordanian Air Force F-16 suffered a technical malfunction over a year ago and crashed in Syria. Its pilot was subsequently captured by ISIS and infamously burned alive by them in a cage.