1st LD: Iraqi plane crashes in northern Iraq, 3 crew missing

An Iraqi plane crashed on Wednesday and its crew went missing while flying over Islamic State (IS)-held area near Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, a security source said.

The Cessna 208 Caravan was on reconnaissance mission over the militant-seized town of Hawijah, some 70 km southwest of Kirkuk, when the authorities lost contact with the crew, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

So far, there is no information about the fate of the three crew members, while a search was launched is underway, the source said.

The incident apparently occurred due to technical malfunctions, the source added.

The Sunni Arab town of Hawijah has been under IS group control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and posts and fled in northern and western the country. Endit