How many did survive the Chinook crash in Iraq?

THINKING out loud as a former commercial chopper pilot, I wonder about the real death toll in that Chinook crash. After seeing pictures of the wreckage and reading the reports, it’s hard to imagine that anyone survived.

Also, the Americans often exploit the luck of the survivors of such catastrophes with lots of publicity. So far I haven’t seen any interviews, which begs the question of whether there is anyone to interview. Thirty-five deaths would be a lot harder to take than sixteen.

Sincerely,

William Blair

 One more life doesn’t count Helicopter deathtoll notches up one more, but total stays at “sixteen”

 “We don’t do body counts,” says General Tommy Franks, US Central Command [Here’s a website for those who do]

 Out of sight, out of mind Bush’s generals sanitise Iraq war’s body bags as ‘transfer tubes’

 Bush press conference: The Bigger the Crisis, the bigger the Lies

 Robert Fisk reports from Baghdad on a near-epidemic of US Army indiscipline, suicides, and loose talk