The civilian helicopter downed in Iraq killing all nine people aboard is said to have been shot down by insurgent fire, BBC reports.

The three-member Bulgarian crew along with other six civilians were killed in the incident. The Russian-built aircraft was flying just north of Baghdad when it was hit, possibly by a rocket-propelled grenade, world media reports.

Insurgents often fire on US aircraft in Iraq, and have shot down helicopters in the past. Still, the downing of the Bulgarian helicopter is believed to be the first attack on a civilian aircraft in Iraq.

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