1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown

1991 Azerbaijani MI-8 helicopter shootdown
A Mil Mi-8 similar to the aircraft shot down
Shootdown
DateNovember 20, 1991
SummaryShootdown
SiteBerdashen (Karakend),
 Azerbaijan (de jure)
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (de facto)
Aircraft
Aircraft typeMil Mi-8
Registration72
Flight originAghdam
DestinationMartuni
Fatalities22
Survivors0

On November 20, 1991, an Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 military helicopter, carrying a peacekeeping mission team consisting of 13 Azerbaijani government officials, two Russian and one Kazakhstani Ministry of Internal Affairs officials, three Azerbaijani journalists and three helicopter crew was shot down amidst heavy fighting near the village of Berdashen, also known as Karakend, in Nagorno-Karabakh.[1][2] All 22 people (19 passengers and three crew) on board were killed in the crash.[3] The incident is known in Azerbaijan as the ''Karakend tragedy''.[4]

  1. ^ Roman Glebov (1991-11-25). "Республики. В Азербайджане сбит вертолет с VIP на борту" [Republics. A helicopter with VIP on board has been shot down in Azerbaijan.] (in Russian). Kommersant. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  2. ^ Menashri, David (1998). Central Asia Meets Middle East. London, Great Britain: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. p. 155. ISBN 0-7146-4600-8.
  3. ^ "Azerbaijan Association. 17 year passes since "Mi-8" military helicopter was shot in Garakand sky – complete list of the perished people". November 21, 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  4. ^ "Qarakənd faciəsi – 30 il – Xəbərlər – ŞUŞA RAYON Icra Hakimiyyəti". www.shusha-ih.gov.az. Retrieved 2022-06-03.