Moldovan plane that crashed in Iraq was downed - eyewitness

[NNN0LHI]

http://en.rian.ru/world/20070112/58977626.html

ANKARA, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - A Moldovan An-26 cargo plane that crashed in Iraq January 9, killing 34 people, was downed by a missile, an eyewitness said Friday.

"The plane is said to have crashed due to fog, but I saw no fog," Ozcan Sahin, a brother of Hamdi Sahin, a Turkish worker killed in the crash, told Turkish NTV television. He said he was 300-400 meters from the crash site, near Balad, north of Baghdad.

"The plane was downed by a missile that struck the right section of the fuselage. Employees of other companies also saw it. More than 20 F-16 fighters took off from an American base that day, and had there been fog they would have been grounded," he said.

It is not the first claim that the An-26 was shot down rather than having crashed as the result of bad weather. The Islamic Army in Iraq group claimed responsibility Thursday for the downing.

[Rex]

1. Sorry but

only the BFEE gets to declare how their war is working out. :sarcasm:

[twilight_sailing]

2. Whenever aircraft go down in Iraq

one must wonder.

Have we been hearing lie upon lie about events there?

I'm inclined to think that, yes, the rebels do have anti-aircraft armaments.

If only the Iraqis would get in line, if only they would accept their fate, they will be a client State, toadies of the Americans. We still want our flowers and sweets.

;)

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Why is it necessary for F-16 fighters to be taking off in Baghdad?

Particularly that many?