US chopper goes down in Iraq

BAGHDAD: A US helicopter was forced to make what the military called a "hard landing" during operations southwest of Baghdad, a US spokeswoman said on Tuesday.   

"There are no indications the aircraft was shot down, but the cause of the hard landing is under investigation," Lieutenant Colonel Josslyn Aberle said of Monday's incident near the restive town of Yusifiyah, 25 kilometres from the capital.   

"Coalition forces responded to the site and are in the process of recovering the helicopter. Coalition forces on board sustained no injuries. There was no collateral damage in the incident," she added.   

The news of the helicopter accident came after the military confirmed that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed north of Baghdad earlier Monday. No information has been released on the fate of the single pilot.