2 U.S. Pilots Die in Crash in Saudi Arabia

Two American pilots serving with the multinational force facing Iraq died in a jet crash in Saudi Arabia today, and the Navy searched for two helicopters and eight crew members--all Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif.--missing over the Arabian Sea.

International forces in the Persian Gulf crisis showed a new measure of teamwork when American, British and Australian warships upholding the U.N. trade embargo forced two Iraqi ships to stop and submit to searches. In one case, the Western ships fired shots.

The official Iraqi News Agency said the actions amounted to harassment by “sea pirates.”

U.S. military officials said an RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance jet crashed in the southern Saudi Arabian peninsula. The jet belonged to a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard assigned to Operation Desert Shield.

The names of the pilots were withheld pending notification of relatives.

The two Marine helicopters disappeared about dawn during a training flight over the north Arabian Sea, east of the Persian Gulf, a Navy spokesman said.

Naval officers ruled out hostile action and said there was no indication that the helicopters collided.

The helicopters were operating from the carrier Okinawa.

Also today, Iraq closed the Kuwait airport to civilian flights, a move that could disrupt a planned U.S. airlift of Westerners trapped since the Iraqi invasion more than two months ago.

A senior Iraqi Airways official said civilian traffic had been halted “for technical reasons.” He could not say when flights were stopped or when they might resume.

The warning shots fired at the Iraqi freighter marked the first time a British warship has shot to enforce the embargo.

The British Defense Ministry said the Iraqi freighter had been shadowed by the HMS Battleaxe, the USS Reasoner and the AHMS Adelaide during the night, then called to stop for inspection.