1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown

Template:Infobox Aircraft accident On January 28, 1992, an Azerbaijani transport helicopter of the Mil Mi-8 model was downed by a heat-seeking missile near the town of Shusha.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration identified this event in its 1993 aviation security report as the "most notable occurrence" involving civil aviation within Central Eurasia.

Background

In January 1992, intense air combat during the Nagorno-Karabakh War escalated. Armenian forces increasingly targeted Azerbaijani aircraft. On January 9, Armenians reported their initial success in shooting down an Azerbaijani helicopter. Subsequent claims followed on January 24, 28, and 31 — all incidents occurred over Nagorno-Karabakh. The final claim involved a Mi-8 destroyed by MANPADs near the village of Huha. On January 31, Azerbaijan asserted that two Mi-8 helicopters supporting the first Armenian offensive had been shot down.

Shootdown

The Mi-8 was carrying a total of 44 individuals (41 civilian passengers and three crew members) when it departed from Aghdam heading toward Shusha, which was under Armenian siege. During its route, the helicopter was struck by a surface-to-air missile, resulting in no survivors among those onboard. Azerbaijani journalist Kerim Kerimli, who assisted with recovering the victims and verified the casualty count, reported that the missile originated from Xankəndi.

Officials from Armenia contended that the helicopter was transporting arms and ammunition to Azerbaijani forces engaged in assaults on Armenian settlements.

See also

• Compilation of aircraft shootdowns throughout the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict