U.S. civilian cargo plane 'crashes' in Iraq

A cargo aircraft carrying four to six civilians crashed today in Iraq, the U.S. government tells AP and Reuters.

It's not clear yet whether they're talking about a plane or a helicopter.

Reuters says the fate of the crew isn't known.

Update at 11:05 a.m. ET: The U.S. civilian cargo plane crashed after it took off from a military base in western Iraq, Reuters now reports.

Update at 11:25 a.m. ET: Army Capt. Charles Calio, a military spokesman, tells USA TODAY that the civilian plane was carrying six crewmembers and one passenger, a civilian, when it crashed.

Calio says the cause is thought be equipment malfunction or pilot error. U.S. military personnel have secured the crash site, he says. USAToday