Civilian cargo aircraft crashes in western Iraq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A civilian cargo aircraft with seven people on board crashed shortly after take-off in western Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. military said, adding that there was little hope of any survivors.

The ex-Soviet built AN-12 airplane, operated by a German firm, crashed shortly after take off, army Captain Charles Calio said. It had just left an air base near the western city of Falluja.

Earlier reports had described it as a U.S. civilian cargo plane. Calio said no American citizens or soldiers were on board. A damage assessment was being done, but it was unlikely that any of the six crew and one baggage handler had survived.

"It looks like everybody was lost," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AC54Y20081113