Mi-26 crash

Mi-26 crash heaviest loss of Russian forces in Chechnya

By Darren Lake, JDW Staff Reporter, London

A helicopter crash has become the cause of the single greatest loss of life to the Russian armed forces in Chechnya since it began its second campaign in the secessionist republic nearly three years ago.

An Mi-26 transport aircraft crashed on 19 August, killing most of the passengers on board. The helicopter was on a routine flight from Mozdok to the headquarters of the Russian forces at Khankala when it crashed into a minefield surrounding the base.

Reports say the large transport helicopter was carrying some 132 passengers when the incident happened, far more than the stated maximum of 80. The aircraft was overloaded because bad weather and fuel shortages had halted flights from Mozdok for the previous several days.

Military sources said a missile strike on the helicopter’s starboard engine had caused the crash and that a discarded Strela manportable surface-to-air missile system had been found nearby. Chechen rebels have claimed responsibility. However as JDW went to press, investigators were not ruling out the possibility of mechanical failure.

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