Wednesday, January 26 2005 20:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: A US Marine helicopter transporting troops crashed today (Jan 26, 2005) in the desert of western Iraq, killing 31 people, American military officials said. It was the deadliest crash of a US military helicopter in Iraq.

A Pentagon source said the helicopter was a CH-53 Sea Stallion, which is normally configured to carry 37 passengers, but can take up to 55. There was no immediate word on how many people were on board or what caused the crash.

The military officials did not specify the nationalities of those on board or say how many were soldiers.

It was the biggest loss of life in a helicopter crash in Iraq and could be the deadliest single incident for American forces since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

The helicopter went down about 1:20 am (Local time) near the town of Rutbah, about 354 kilometres west of Baghdad, while conducting security operations, the military said in a statement. The aircraft was transporting personnel from the 1st Marine Division.

A search and rescue team has reached the site and an investigation into what caused the crash is underway, the military said.

"We can confirm casualties, but not what type or numbers yet,'' a US spokesman, Lt Col Steven Boylan, said.

Previously, the deadliest incident involving US troops was a Nov 15, 2003, crash of two Black Hawk helicopters that collided while trying to avoid ground fire in Mosul, killing 17 US soldiers and wounding five.

Earlier that month, a Chinook transport helicopter was shot down by shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile near Fallujah, killing 16 American soldiers and wounding 26.