Related: Iraqi militants shoot down commercial helicopter, 11 dead

A video grab shows the wreckage of a Russian-built commercial helicopter in Baghdad, April 21, 2005. An Iraqi insurgent group said it shot down a commercial helicopter with 11 people on board and then killed the only survivor, according to a statement and video posted on the Internet. (Reuters Photo)

File photo of Russian-built commercial helicopter (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhuanet) -- A militant group in Iraq claimed on the Internet on Thursday that it shot down a commercial helicopter contracted by a US company, killing 11 on board.

    "The heroes of the Islamic Army in Iraq shot down a transport plane of the army of atheism," said a statement posted on the Internet.

    Besides, a three-minute video displayed on the Internet showed the burning remains of the crashed helicopter and the burned-out corpses.

    The authenticity of the video could not be verified.

    A spokesman of US Embassy in Baghdad confirmed that the Bulgarian civilian helicopter crashed north of Baghdad on Thursday,killing six Americans and three Bulgarians on board.

    Later reports said that two security guards from an unidentified country were also among the dead.

    The Islamic Army in Iraq is known for its abduction and sometimes execution of foreigners.

    Insurgents in Iraq sometimes managed to shoot down helicopters and damage planes with projectiles. A US transport helicopter was downed by rockets near Falluja in 2003, with at least 16 US soldiers aboard killed.  Enditem