Five killed in Iraqi Air Force plane crash

An Iraqi Air Force aircraft crash killed four US Air Force staff and one Iraqi, the American military said today.

The crash happened at about noon yesterday in Diyala, a province north east of the capital, Baghdad, said military spokesman Lt Col Fred Wellman.

"All the personnel on board are confirmed to have been killed in action, but there is still an investigation ongoing," Wellman said.

It was unclear what type of fixed-wing aircraft it was, who was in control of it nor why it crashed. Strong wind buffeted central and northern Iraq yesterday.

Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s air force all but disappeared during the 1991 Gulf War and efforts have only recently begun to rebuild the fleet.

In November, the United Arab Emirates delivered four six-seater Com Air 7SL aircraft, four Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters and several other planes. Three C-130E Hercules cargo planes were delivered from the US to the Iraqi Air Force in January.