Helicopter pilot killed in Yazidi rescue crash, mourned in Iraq
- 10 years ago
Another funeral in Iraq, this time for the pilot of a helicopter that crashed 24-hours earlier while delivering aid to Yazidi refugees, trapped without food or water in the mountains of northern Iraq.
According to witnesses the aircraft had unloaded the aid, and taken on more than 20 Yazidis, when it crashed shortly after take-off.
Several of the passengers were injured.
The Yazidis are desperate to escape from Islamic State militants who've driven them from their homes, accusing them of being "devil worshippers".
Over the past week, aircraft have been dropping food and other supplies to the tens of thousands of refugees hiding in the mountains.
And attending the pilot's funeral Nuri al-Malaki the outgoing prime minister who many accuse of failing to end the sectarian divisions in Iraq but who refuses to step down.
According to witnesses the aircraft had unloaded the aid, and taken on more than 20 Yazidis, when it crashed shortly after take-off.
Several of the passengers were injured.
The Yazidis are desperate to escape from Islamic State militants who've driven them from their homes, accusing them of being "devil worshippers".
Over the past week, aircraft have been dropping food and other supplies to the tens of thousands of refugees hiding in the mountains.
And attending the pilot's funeral Nuri al-Malaki the outgoing prime minister who many accuse of failing to end the sectarian divisions in Iraq but who refuses to step down.