ROME, Nov. 8, 2007

U.S. Helicopter Crash Kills 5 In Italy

Six Others Injured After Black Hawk Crashes Outside Treviso

    • Italian police officers stand by the charred remains of a UH-60 Black Hawk U.S. Army helicopter that crashed in the countryside outside of Treviso, in the uninhabited area of St. Lucia di Piave, northern Italy, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. Photo

      Italian police officers stand by the charred remains of a UH-60 Black Hawk U.S. Army helicopter that crashed in the countryside outside of Treviso, in the uninhabited area of St. Lucia di Piave, northern Italy, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007.  (AP Photo/Walter Parisotto)

    • Paramedics carry the body of one of the victims pulled from a UH-60 Black Hawk U.S. Army helicopter that crashed in the countryside outside of Treviso, in the uninhabited area of St. Lucia di Piave, northern Italy, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. Photo

      Paramedics carry the body of one of the victims pulled from a UH-60 Black Hawk U.S. Army helicopter that crashed in the countryside outside of Treviso, in the uninhabited area of St. Lucia di Piave, northern Italy, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007.  (AP Photo/Walter Parisotto)

    • In this picture taken from video and made available by Italian SkyTG24, rescuers surround a U.S. military helicopter which crashed in northern Italy on Nov. 8, 2007. Photo

      In this picture taken from video and made available by Italian SkyTG24, rescuers surround a U.S. military helicopter which crashed in northern Italy on Nov. 8, 2007.  (AP Photo/SKYTG24)

    • Five people were reported dead. Photo

      Five people were reported dead.  (AP Photo/SKYTG24)

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  • Timeline Iraq Copter Crashes

    Some of the deadliest helicopter crashes in Iraq and Kuwait since the start of the war.

(CBS/AP)  A U.S. Army helicopter crashed in northern Italy on Thursday, killing at least five people on board, the Army said.

Eleven U.S. service members were on board the UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter, U.S. Army Europe said in a statement released by its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.

Four bodies were pulled from the wreckage of the UH-60 Blackhawk Army chopper, which went down near Treviso, and another six people on board were injured and sent to area hospitals, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the national fire department.

The U.S. Army said one of the injured people later died.

Television footage showed the charred remains of the chopper, which broke into at least two pieces, smoldering in a swampy field.

The Black Hawk helicopter which crashed was part of Company G of 52nd Aviation Regiment of U.S. Army, reports CBS News correspondent Sabina Castelfranco.

A spokesman at the U.S. Air Force base in Aviano, near Venice, Senior Airman Justin Weaver, said the chopper involved had taken off from Aviano.

He said the Blackhawk crashed in the countryside outside of Treviso, in the uninhabited area of St. Lucia di Piave. The location is about 25 miles southwest of Aviano, which in turn is about 70 miles northeast of Venice.

Television footage showed the charred remains of the chopper, which broke into at least two large pieces, smoldering in a swampy field.

The UH-60 Blackhawk is the Army's general utility helicopter - used for transporting troops and equipment, air assault, medical evacuations and to support special operations as well as other missions.

An entire 11-person, fully equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single Blackhawk, according to the Army web site, which says the helicopter has a crew of four.

CBS News has learned that the Black Hawk did take off from Aviano but is not based there.

The statement said that the names of the victims were being withheld pending notification of their families, and that the cause of the crash was not immediately known.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 26 Comments
by famulla-2009 November 8, 2007 8:48 AM PST
Sir
5 Feared Dead In U.S. Chopper Crash
Any loss of life is sad news sir. This is applicable in natural disasters like Tsunami, Katrina, fires in California, The foods in Mexico, and the poverty-stricken countries who have little to eat as the super power cut off the aid. Death is certain but there are deaths that are avoidable. THE GPS need re-looking for the floods and the speed of reacting to the call. I thin after 9/11 all need to be on the trigger of GO" and rush to the scene of disasters fast and save lives. This is in the hands of politicians. I include the students shooting here also. This is defiantly avoidable but the law is so lax that any one can buy the gun and shoot as he is in desperation. Where is the medical facility in the rich countries where this happen daily? No. I am not bitter. Just pondering the loots by Enron, Merrill Lynch, Citi, now in Stanley Morgan. All lose in the investment and commit suicide. That too is death is it not.

I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD
P.O.Box 6044 Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
East Africa

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by vivifiant November 8, 2007 9:21 AM PST
Were these the same cowboys stationed in Aviano that unsuccessfully tried to navigate a US fighter jet through ski lift cables a few years ago? They killed 20 people but evaded Italian justice. Apparently Italy is annexed by the US and has no sovereignty ...

Vivifiant, Ohio
.
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by vivifiant November 8, 2007 9:23 AM PST
Were these the same cowboys stationed in Aviano that unsuccessfully tried to navigate a US fighter jet through ski lift cables a few years ago? They killed 20 people but evaded Italian justice. Apparently Italy is annexed by the US and has no sovereignty ...

Vivifiant, Ohio
.
Reply to this comment
by forthepeopl1 November 8, 2007 10:10 AM PST
SO GO AHEAD AMERICANS BE WEAK, THIS IS COMMING....IT IS TIME FOR A REVOLUTION,TIME TO STOP BUSH/CHENEY


The violence broke out after an estimated 80,000 ant-iBUSH demonstrators - led by university students - marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that would greatly expand BUSH/CHENEY power if voters agree to the changes in December. Unrest, if it continues, could mar a Dec. 2 referendum on the controversial reforms
The amendments being protested would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.
The protesters demand the referendum be suspended, saying the amendments would weaken civil liberties and give BUSH AND CHENEY unprecedented power to declare states of emergency.
``Don''''''''t allow AMERICA to go down a path that nobody wants to cross , during the march to the Supreme Court.
BUSH, who was first elected in2000, denies the reforms threaten freedom. He says they would instead move AMERICA toward what he calls ``21st century socialism.''''''''''''''''
In televised comments prior to the unrest, BUSH urged ALL AMERICANS to turn out en masse to vote for the reforms. In reference to the opposition, he said: ``Don''''''''t go crazy.''''''''''''''''

SO GO AHEAD AND VOTE HER IN AMERICA, AND SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT...

WITH 250 MILLION AMERICANS THEY CANT KILL US ALL..TIME FOR A REVOLUTION.
Reply to this comment
by italyhawk November 8, 2007 10:14 AM PST
Were these the same cowboys stationed in Aviano that unsuccessfully tried to navigate a US fighter jet through ski lift cables a few years ago? They killed 20 people but evaded Italian justice. Apparently Italy is annexed by the US and has no sovereignty ...

Vivifiant, Ohio


They are not cowboys but great Americans that were in an accident. If you had half a brain you would remember that a Navy Jet cut the cable and this was a Army Helicopter. I was station in Aviano after the cable accident and most US and Italian pilots agreed that the accident was that an accident. I agree that punishment should have been given, but to use the new accident (that didn''t hurt anyone outside the helicopter) has a platform to talk about something that happened over eight years ago is sad and a disgrace to those who died in the helicopter accident.
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by chad55555 November 8, 2007 11:29 AM PST
In todays world there no such animal as a super power,911 taught us that,we can''t feed the world,we can''t police the world,we should start taking a long look at feeding and medical care in America.With so many Africans and Mexicans bring their morals and crime into this contry we soon will be a 3ed world country,not able to feed and take care of our own.SO WHY ARE SO MANY MIITARY GIVING THEIR LIFE. I AM A COMBAT VETERAN I FOUGHT FOR GOD(CHRIST) FAMILY AND COUNTRY.THEY TELL ME I CAN''T SPEAK OF MY GOD THE ONE THAT STARTED THIS COUNTRY,FAMILY IS CONTROLED BY FAMILY SERVICES AND THE COUNTRY GIVES MORE RIGHTS TO PEOPLE SNEAKING OVER THE BOARDER(LAW BREAKERS) THEN TO PEOPLE WHO''S GRANT GRAND FATHERS ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1700''s THAT DIDED FOR THIS COUNTRY.WE CLOUD THE ISSUE WITH EQUAL RIGHTS AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS,WE NEED TO GO BACK 70 years and see what went wrong and fix it if it''s not too late. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL MILITARY FAMILIES
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by flipantflaw November 8, 2007 11:57 AM PST
'' .. it is farce / sci-fi / impossible in one, it is surreal, lieutenants what hold hands and weave bouquets, recycle garbage / garden to educational props w/ accents / dances with jingles, shopgift grass / dirt for cures for cancer / other margaritas, shift / toggle / travel, dance get well feed world get sick tax world hike naked dance dressed porn songs rallyd round billions sick beds swimming drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail crossing yseedsberry trail groups dotted w/ homed sheltets, speckled w/ drip compost fertilizet / drip water irrigatet, decorated with folk playing zero resistance free form tai chi aikido yogaerobic inkblot sport and puzzle for life and lunch the musical epic quest to cure the common death and the wondet supet flora poet ballot ballet bowl and the lusty forge your own epic karaoke feed the world with free food / free medicine for each and all forever and ever more, tho they''ve chased me to punish / persecute, and i''ve chased them to tell them not to punish / persecute, i''ve seen them heal, i''ve seen them save, i''ve seen them speak love into hearts with effortless unrewarded ease, they taught courtesy / effeciency / the absence of detention when the rule books demanded otherwise, my heart is of disbelief, they did not do these things, and if they had: i''d not surrender my disbelief to be myself so unyielding .. ''
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by signof4 November 8, 2007 12:59 PM PST
Iraqis are moving back to their homes
Terrorists are being driven from Bagdad
Fatwas are being issued by imams for peace
Violence is down due to the surge

And THIS makes front page CBS/AP news. Tell me all about how there''s no bias in the LAMEstream media!
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by mommaheaney November 8, 2007 1:03 PM PST
God Bless the deceased soilders families and I hope the wounded get better soon. To try to make this news article some sort of political battle ground is savage!
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by kingreb09 November 8, 2007 1:41 PM PST
Please go to amazon.com and type in the search box "THE GAME BY JERRY WEBBER" and then purchase the book entitled "THE GAME" by Jerry Webber. This is a must read book for the entire family and will make for an excellent Christmas gift and the proceeds will go to help a homeless. Tell all of your friends to do the same tyhing as well.Thank you very much.
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by logicanada November 8, 2007 2:27 PM PST
The terrorists did it.
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by denn034 November 8, 2007 3:23 PM PST
The fact that only 5 of the 11 onboard died says something about military training. My condolences to the families of those who died.
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by ampsanne November 8, 2007 4:59 PM PST
My sympathy to the families of the men that were killed. Perhaps there might have been a mechanical malfuntion in this crash. From what I know from my Dad who was a pilot, the rotors on helicopters have to be changed after 400 hours of flying. Or it could have been pilot error. I''m sure there will an explanation to the crash.
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by mnj0214 November 8, 2007 6:47 PM PST
I think it''s terrible that people are dead, and all everyone is talking about is political BS and terrorist agenda. These are people''s LIVES here... this wasn''t anything political. This wasn''t terrorist related. This is tragedy. I lived in Aviano until 4 months ago. Due to no names being released yet, I''m left unknown if any of my close friends were in that accident. Those who are affected by this are left to wait, wonder, and ache, and all you guys care to comment on is biased BS that you want to sling, propaganda to throw in someone''s face, and shoot off your own agenda to anyone who will listen. GROW A HEART: at least pretend to feel for those who suffer from this event, and get your head out of your own "you know what".
Reply to this comment
by mnj0214 November 8, 2007 6:50 PM PST
I think it''s terrible that people are dead, and all everyone is talking about is political BS and terrorist agenda. These are people''s LIVES here... this wasn''t anything political. This wasn''t terrorist related. This is tragedy. I lived in Aviano until 4 months ago. Due to no names being released yet, I''m left unknown if any of my close friends were in that accident. Those who are affected by this are left to wait, wonder, and ache, and all you guys care to comment on is biased BS that you want to sling, propaganda to throw in someone''s face, and shoot off your own agenda to anyone who will listen. GROW A HEART: at least pretend to feel for those who suffer from this event, and get your head out of your own "you know what".
Reply to this comment
by mnj0214 November 8, 2007 6:51 PM PST
I think it''s terrible that people are dead, and all everyone is talking about is political BS and terrorist agenda. These are people''s LIVES here... this wasn''t anything political. This wasn''t terrorist related. This is tragedy. I lived in Aviano until 4 months ago. Due to no names being released yet, I''m left unknown if any of my close friends were in that accident. Those who are affected by this are left to wait, wonder, and ache, and all you guys care to comment on is biased BS that you want to sling, propaganda to throw in someone''s face, and shoot off your own agenda to anyone who will listen. GROW A HEART: at least pretend to feel for those who suffer from this event, and get your head out of your own "you know what".
Reply to this comment
by mnj0214 November 8, 2007 6:53 PM PST
I think it''s terrible that people are dead, and all everyone is talking about is political BS and terrorist agenda. These are people''s LIVES here... this wasn''t anything political. This wasn''t terrorist related. This is tragedy. I lived in Aviano until 4 months ago. Due to no names being released yet, I''m left unknown if any of my close friends were in that accident. Those who are affected by this are left to wait, wonder, and ache, and all you guys care to comment on is biased BS that you want to sling, propaganda to throw in someone''s face, and shoot off your own agenda to anyone who will listen. GROW A HEART: at least pretend to feel for those who suffer from this event, and get your head out of your own "you know what".
Reply to this comment
by dibear1 November 8, 2007 7:22 PM PST
My son is a very close friend of one of the brave soldiers who is in critical condition ~ at least we think he still is as another one of these young men have passed bringing the death toll to 6. Please pray for a young soldier named Mike that he may not only survive by God''s grace but not be parallyzed or worse for life. GOD BLESS ALL OUR TROOPS ~
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by howcould November 8, 2007 7:26 PM PST
hope its not them faulty propeller shafts. Ya know? The whole world is seduced by cheap.
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by zootallures2 November 8, 2007 8:45 PM PST
Black Hawk helicopter...Maybe you should call it the doe doe bird?
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by lilbit1023 November 9, 2007 3:24 AM PST
It''s ridiculous that people are getting on here making dumb comments when people have been injured and lost their lives. Saying Italy was not code for Iraq. I really know some of these people and this happened in Italy. Please pay respect for these people who served their country and really were wonderful people. Just another example of bad things happening to good people!!!
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by hilofi November 9, 2007 12:37 PM PST
I agree with lilbit1023. I also knew some of the deceased and I can tell you it was Italy. My friends were going on an incentive ride in a helicopter and it crashed. It sucks.

To those people posting ridiculous and ignorant comments have no credibility on these subjects. You sit back in your homes and watch your tv and complain about this and about that. Bush/Cheney/terrorism have nothing to do with anything. We''d all of been stationed in Italy regardless. So if you have no intelligent comments to add, please just respect the families and friends of those who died and keep it to yourself. Please.
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by b-easy63 November 9, 2007 5:39 PM PST
Has anyone ever looked into what problems there are with military helicopters? They seem to be in a quite a few crashes...maybe the people who make them are skimping on some of the parts, or maybe they subcontracted the parts out to China or something?
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by zootallures2 November 9, 2007 5:53 PM PST
It''''s ridiculous that people are getting on here making dumb comments when people have been injured and lost their lives.

Posted by lilbit1023 at 03:24 AM : Nov 09, 2007

You don''t teach any respect or make any logical points with it, so don''t expect any. It''s 2007. The holy sacrad troops of 1930''s Germany is old schtick. You are looking dumber every day. There are 300 million people with a right to bear arms. I don''t need some steroid marine to be my daddy. Bite me and your troops too.

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by hilofi November 10, 2007 12:54 PM PST
zootallures, you''re just an idiot. enough said.
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by grrenkarma November 11, 2007 3:39 AM PST
i will accept your right to express your opinion because it is what my family stands for and is why we do our duty. i will not accept disrespect to my family though. my cousin died in that crash. i hope that your ignorance is not long lived, or that in time, through whatever karma or deity you believe in decides to visit upon you the suffering my family has gone through because of your thoughtless ( i hope) and unthinking remarks, you understand. i am saddened to think that this is all that comes from the proud service my family has given.
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