US military to join funeral for soldier killed in Kuwait

The United States military is sending up to 10 of its personnel to New Zealand for the funeral of acting Major John McNutt.

Major McNutt and five US soldiers died on Tuesday when a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet dropped three unguided 500-pound (226kg) "dumb" bombs on an observation post near Kuwait's border with Iraq. Seven other observers were wounded.

The bombs exploded near where Major McNutt and other soldiers were watching a close-air support exercise at the Udairi training range.

Army spokesman Captain Kendall Langston said today that Major McNutt's body was due to be flown to Christchurch on Monday on board a US military aircraft.

Up to 10 US military personnel, who would also be on the same aircraft, would provide "ceremonial aspects" at Major McNutt's funeral at Burnham Military Camp on Tuesday afternoon, he said.

An Army colleague, who will also accompany the body home, arrived in Germany today. Major McNutt's body was flown from Kuwait to the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, yesterday.