Iraq crash servicemen to be named

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Initial reports suggested the two Puma transport helicopters came down north of Baghdad on Sunday as a result of an accident rather than an insurgent attack.

One of those killed was a member of RAF air crew and the other was a member of the Army travelling with him as a passenger.

Four other servicemen in the same aircraft were injured, one of them very seriously, but everyone aboard the second helicopter escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed exactly how many troops were on board the two helicopters, which can each carry up to 16 fully-equipped troops.

The crash was unusual because of its location - British forces are based in Basra, southern Iraq, and UK units operating elsewhere in the country are often involved in special forces missions.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said the Pumas were involved in a "routine operational flight", but it is understood some of the personnel on board belong to special forces units.

An MoD spokesman said: "I can't talk about the particular mission they were involved in, but we do have units operating as part of the coalition across Iraq."

The helicopters came down south-west of Taji, 12 miles north of Baghdad, and the site of a large US military base.

Two of those injured have already been discharged back to their units and two others are being treated in a US service hospital.