Pentagon releases names of 7 airmen killed in crash in Iraq

The Defense Department has released the names of seven airmen who were killed Thursday when an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in western Iraq. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Those who were killed include Capt. Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was assigned to the 38th Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Four of the airmen were assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing at the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, New York:

-Capt. Andreas B. O’Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, New York.

-Capt. Christopher T. Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City, New York.

-Master Sgt. Christopher J. Raguso, 39, of Commack, New York.

-Staff Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs, 30, of Port Jefferson Station, New York.

Two were assigned to the 308th Rescue Squadron, Air Force Reserve, at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida:

-Master Sgt. William R. Posch, 36, of Indialantic, Florida.

-Staff Sgt. Carl P. Enis, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida.

Officials have said there were no indications the helicopter had been shot down. In their initial statements, officials said the helicopter, which is used by the Air Force for combat search and rescue, was in transit when it went down Thursday afternoon near the town of Qaim in Anbar Province.