| An RAF aircraft is missing, following reports that it was hit by an American missile.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman at Central Command in Qatar said it had been returning from a mission over Iraq.
It was not yet known what type of aircraft was involved or how many crew were on board, although a search for survivors is underway.
It is thought the plane was brought down by a US Patriot anti-missile system stationed in the Gulf to protect Kuwait and coalition forces stationed there.
The MoD spokesman said there were "no further details at this stage."
It comes after two helicopter crashes involving British crew, on consecutive nights.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided over the Gulf, with the loss of all seven crew members - six British and one American.
And 24 hours earlier a US Chinook crashed over the Kuwaiti desert killing eight British and four American service personnel.
Baghdad has endured a fourth night of bombing on Saturday, but not on the scale witnessed on Friday night.
It is not known whether the missing plane was involved in the air strikes on the Iraqi capital.
RAF crews also fly support and cover missions.
US and Iraqi forces have clashed in the desert just 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad.
And Iraqi pockets of resistance have remained in southern Iraq, with an exchange of fire in Umm Qasr.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told a Sunday newspaper the military strategy is aimed at avoiding civilian casualties.
Source: BBC | |
