Missile fire downs helicopter in Iraq, Bulgarian officials say; 3 Bulgarians among 9 people killed

A commercial helicopter contracted by the U.S. was shot down by missile fire Thursday north of the Iraqi capital, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said. All nine people on board were killed, including three Bulgarians, officials said.

"The helicopter was shot by missile fire around 2 p.m. local time," a Defense Ministry statement said. The ministry did not provide the nationalities of the six others killed when the helicopter crashed.

Associated Press