AFP, BAGHDAD: A bomb fell from an Iraqi Sukhoi warplane and exploded in eastern Baghdad yesterday because of a technical problem, killing at least eight people and wounding 17, officials said.
One of the bombs became stuck because of a technical problem, and during its (the aircraft's) return to base it fell on... houses in Baghdad Jadida, security spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said.
The pilot tried six times to drop the bomb, which became stuck while he was carrying out strikes against the Islamic State (IS)
jihadist group, but was unable to dislodge it mechanically or manually, the defence ministry said in a statement.
But the bomb came loose as the plane overflew Baghdad to land at its base, the ministry said.
The governor of Baghdad province, Ali al-Tamimi, called for the Rasheed air base, where the plane was bound, to be moved to a non-residential area.
Tamimi said he contacted the air force and was told the plane was returning from the Haditha area in Anbar province, which is surrounded by IS.