Six American contractors working for the Blackwater security company, two Fijians and three Bulgarian crew died after their Mi-8 helicopter was apparently struck by a missile.

The Islamic Army in Iraq, a militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first shooting-down of a civilian aircraft in Iraq.

The group posted a video on the internet, claiming that it executed the only survivor. “One of the crew members was captured alive and killed,” it said. The video showed what appeared to be the burning remains of the helicopter. A man in blue overalls was shown lying in a grassy area and reaching out for help. “Give me a hand,” he was heard saying.

Off-camera insurgents ordered him to walk away before shooting him repeatedly to the cry of “Allahu Akbar”. The video, whose authenticity could not be verified, also showed several charred bodies.

The group said the attack was in retaliation for last year’s US-led assault on the city of Fallujah, which in turn was triggered by the lynching of four American security contractors working for Blackwater.

Insurgents frequently fire on US aircraft in Iraq and have brought down several military helicopters before. A US Chinook transporter was shot down west of Baghdad in November 2003, killing at least 16 US troops and wounding more than 20.

Times Recommends

• Fish and chip shops ‘selling cobbler as cod’
• T in the Park festival at Kinross
• Body Watch