MPs told of Iraq helicopter crash

RAF Sergeant McLaren and Colour Sergeant Powell died last April

A helicopter crash which killed two servicemen in Iraq, was caused when one aircraft tried to land too close to another, MPs have been told.

Colour Sergeant Mark Powell, of the Parachute Regiment, and RAF Sergeant Mark McLaren died in the incident last April. Several others were injured.

Armed Forces minister Bob Ainsworth said as the second aircraft landed, its rotor blades hit the lead helicopter.

Mr Ainsworth was reporting the findings of the RAF board of inquiry to MPs.

Judging distances

The two Puma helicopters had been part of a formation supporting coalition operations.

He said the board concluded the accident that happened north of Baghdad was caused by the second helicopter being too close to the lead aircraft.

A contributory factor was the difficulty of judging distances accurately to another rotor blade at close range, he added.

Mr Ainsworth also said Wiltshire coroner David Masters would hold an inquest into the deaths.