Second Iraq helicopter victim named

The second British servicemen killed when two RAF helicopters crashed in mid-air in Iraq has been named as 27-year-old Sergeant Mark McLaren.

The Ministry of Defence released his identity a day after naming Colour Sergeant Mark Powell as the first victim of the crash.

Four other service personnel were also injured - one seriously - following the collision north of Baghdad.

The cause is being treated as an accident and the MoD has not confirmed exactly how many troops were on board the two helicopters, which can each carry up to 16 fully-equipped troops.

The fatal 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.

Officials have already contacted the next of kin of everybody who was on board the helicopters at the time of the crash.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Browne both expressed their sympathy for the families of those killed.

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