SOMALIA: GUNMEN SHOOT DOWN U.N. HELICOPTER KILLING THREE U.S. CREW MEMBERS

Record ID: 904617

  • Title: SOMALIA: GUNMEN SHOOT DOWN U.N. HELICOPTER KILLING THREE U.S. CREW MEMBERS
  • Date: 24th September 1993
  • Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (SEPTEMBER 25, 1993) 1. GV WOMEN DANCING AROUND WRECKAGE OF SHOT DOWN UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) HELICOPTER 0.09 2. SV PAN 'UNITED STATES ARMY' MARKING ON FUSELAGE 0.20 3. SV PEOPLE TOUCHING LANDING GEAR WHEEL 0.27 4. GV FUSELAGE WRECK 0.32 5. GVS/SVS SMOKING WRECKAGE WITH CROWD LOOKING (6 SHOTS) 1.19 6. CU DAMAGED WALL 1.24 7. GV PEOPLE PULLING OFF PIECES OF HELICOPTER 1.30 8. GV CROWDS IN MARKET 1.34 9. GV HELICOPTER FLIES OVER HEAD 1.39 Somali gunmen shot down a United Nations (U.N.) combat helicopter over central Mogadishu early on Saturday (September 25), killing three U.S. crew members and wounding two. At least six other U.N. soldiers were wounded in ground fighting when U.S., Pakistani and United Arab Emirates ground forces were sent into the densely-populated area, a U.N. spokesman said. Local people said there were heavy Somali casualties in the battle, which began around 4 a.m. and finished two hours later, shortly after dawn. They also said that the body of one of the dead U.S. soldiers was displayed in a market place and that Somalis danced to celebrate the death of the three men. U.N. military spokesman Major David Stockwell said the Blackhawk helicopter from the U.S. Quick Reaction Force, which forms the crack strike unit within the U.N. group, crashed near Mogadishu's new port at 2 a.m. "The pilot reported that a rocket-propelled grenade hit the prow of the aircraft and it caused an explosion on board," Stockwell said. The pilot managed to land the Blackhawk in a street, but the aircraft caught fire and was completely burned out. It was the first time in the war between U.N. forces and the militia of fugitive warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed that gunmen have brought a helicopter down. The death of the three U.S. soldiers brings to 56 the number of U.N. troops killed by Somali gunmen since May 4, when the United Nations took command of the peacekeeping operation. Up to 300 Somalis have been killed, including women and children caught in crossfire.
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: United Nations (U.N.), helicopter,
  • Location: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
  • City: Mogadishu
  • Country: Somalia
  • Reuters ID: VA4XBJ1UDA7I069J6YOTL4F5FIU:1
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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