ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991                   TAG: 9102220261
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA                                LENGTH: Short


HELICOPTER CRASH KILLS 7 U.S. SOLDIERS

A U.S. Army helicopter on a medical evacuation mission crashed Thursday in bad weather in western Saudi Arabia, killing seven soldiers, the U.S. command said.

The crash was the worst non-combat air accident since the Persian Gulf War began Jan. 17.

A statement early today by the command provided few details, but the area where the accident occurred has been hit in recent days by shamals, or sandstorms.

It said the UH-60 Blackhawk crashed while trying to land at 3:30 a.m. Thursday. It did not report the location or say what Army unit was involved. - Associated Press



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