 RA-27003, the Mil Mi-8 involved in the accident | |
| Shootdown | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 December 2012 |
| Summary | Friendly fire incident |
| Site | Near Likuangole, South Sudan 7°02′56″N 33°00′15″E / 7.049°N 33.0043°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mil Mi-8 |
| Operator | Nizhnevartovskavia for United Nations Humanitarian Air Service |
| Registration | RA-27003 |
| Flight origin | Juba, South Sudan |
| Stopover | Pibor, South Sudan |
| Occupants | 4 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Nizhnevartovskavia Flight 544 was a civilian helicopter operated by Nizhnevartovskavia that was shot down by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) near Likuangole, South Sudan on December 21, 2012, killing all four people on board.
Flight 544 was performing a reconnaissance mission for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to evaluate overland routes and landing areas for the delivery of humanitarian aid.[1] The flight had originated in Juba. Shortly after taking off from a stopover at Pibor, the helicopter began to take fire from SPLA ground-based anti-aircraft artillery and crashed. The crash site was near the front of ongoing fighting between the SPLA and Murle rebels led by David Yau Yau.[citation needed] The four victims on board were Russian nationals employed by Nizhnevartovskavia.[2]