Helicopter crash in Kuwait kills 12

　　直升飞机坠毁12人丧生

　　A U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopter crashed early Friday in Kuwait, killing all 12 people aboard, the first coalition fatalities of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pentagon officials said.

　　美国五角大楼官员称，星期五早些时候，载有12人的美国CH-46型运输直升机在科威特失事，机上12名士兵全部丧生，这是伊拉克战争打响后美国领导的盟军方面首次出现人员伤亡。

　　The 12 aboard included eight British military personnel and four American crew members, Pentagon officials said.

　　五角大楼官员称，飞机上12人包括8名英军士兵和4名美军士兵。

　　The helicopter crashed 9 miles south of Kuwait's border with Iraq at 3:40 a.m. (7:40 p.m. ET Thursday).

　　这架直升飞机是在凌晨3：40分(美国东部时间星期四下午7：40分)在科威特边境以南9公里的地方失事的。

　　There was no indication of hostile fire, officials said, saying it appeared the chopper went down because of some other problem, possibly mechanical.

　　官员表示，没有迹象表明，飞机在坠毁前遭到了地面火力袭击。因为飞机在失事前是断路器着地的，很可能是机械故障。

　　The CH-46 is a dual-rotor assault helicopter mainly used to transport troops, supplies and equipment. Troop transport is the primary function of the helicopter, and movement of equipment and supplies is secondary.

　　CH-46是双螺旋桨式的进攻飞机，主要用于运输部队，供给和设备。第一职能是负责部队的运输，其次才是设备和供给。