A Russian Kamov Ka-52 (NATO reporting name: Hokum-B) helicopter has crashed in Syria, killing both pilots, the Defense Ministry’s press office said. "A Russian Ka-52 helicopter crashed while performing a routine flight over eastern regions of the Syrian Arab Republic. Both pilots were killed," the press office said.

Russian Armed Forces' Ka-52 attack helicopter
(Credit: Russian Defense Ministry)

According to the press office, a search-and-rescue team took the bodies to the airfield. "According to preliminary information, a technical malfunction may have caused the incident," the press office said.

The Kamov Ka-52 reconnaissance/attack helicopter that crashed on May 7 is the eighth rotorcraft Russia has lost during the counterterrorism operation in Syria, according to media reports and official data provided by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The first helicopter, i.e. the Mil Mi-8AMTSh, was lost on November 24, 2015 during a search and rescue operation aimed at finding two pilots of the Sukhoi Su-24M (Fencer) frontline bomber downed by a Turkish Air Force fighter jet in the Syrian airspace on the same day.

During the search-and-rescue operation, the helicopter came under fire from the ground, performed an emergency landing on the neutral territory and was later destroyed by mortar fire from positions held by the terrorists.

On April 12, 2016, a Mi-28N helicopter crashed near the city of Homs. Both pilots were killed. According to preliminary conclusions made by the Russian Defense Ministry’s commission, the rotorcraft crashed due to a pilot error.

During a combat mission on July 8, 2016, a Russian Aerospace Force Mi-35M helicopter crashed, coming under terrorist fire. Both pilots were killed.

On August 1, 2016, a Russian Mi-8AMTSh helicopter was downed by fire from the ground in the Idlib province. The helicopter’s crew and officers of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria, who were onboard, died.

During a routine flight on November 3, 2016, a Russian Aerospace Force helicopter, probably a Mi-35M, performed an emergency landing and was later destroyed by mortar fire from the ground. The helicopter’s crew members were rescued as a result of a search and rescue operation.

On October 6, 2017, a Mi-28N combat helicopter performed a forced landing in the Hama province. Both pilots survived. The incident was caused by a technical malfunction.
On December 31, 2017, a Mi-24P helicopter crashed due to a technical failure. Both pilots died.

As mentioned above, a Ka-52 reconnaissance/attack helicopter crashed in Syria on May 7, 2018, killing both crew members.

As of May 8, 2018, Russia has lost two Mi-8AMTSh military transport rotorcraft and six combat helicopters, in particular, two Mi-28N, one Ka-52, two Mi-35M and one Mi-24P. Four helicopters were engaged, while three incidents were caused by technical drawbacks and one - by a pilot error.

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