Monday, 14 January 2013 13:14 Mizzima News
Two pilots and a flight sergeant died when an MI-35 helicopter gunship crashed near Talawgyi, about 20 miles south of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, on January 11.
Burmese state-run media reported that the military helicopter crashed when it tried to make an emergency landing due to engine failure.
The state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said on Sunday that the military helicopter left Myitkyina Airbase on a “security and administrative mission” and made an emergency landing in the forest south of Myitkyina.
However, sources close to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) claim that the Kachin army shot down the helicopter.
In recent weeks, Burmese government forces have deployed helicopter gunships and fighter jets for air strikes against Kachin front line positions as they close in on the KIO headquarters in Laiza.
__________________________________________________________
For more background:
http://www.mizzima.com/special/kachin-battle-report/8571-naypyitaw-deploys-helicopter-gunships-against-kio.html
http://www.mizzima.com/special/kachin-battle-report/8675-kachins-says-air-strikes-are-continuing.html
Two pilots and a flight sergeant died when an MI-35 helicopter gunship crashed near Talawgyi, about 20 miles south of Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, on January 11.
Burmese state-run media reported that the military helicopter crashed when it tried to make an emergency landing due to engine failure.
The state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said on Sunday that the military helicopter left Myitkyina Airbase on a “security and administrative mission” and made an emergency landing in the forest south of Myitkyina.
However, sources close to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) claim that the Kachin army shot down the helicopter.
In recent weeks, Burmese government forces have deployed helicopter gunships and fighter jets for air strikes against Kachin front line positions as they close in on the KIO headquarters in Laiza.
__________________________________________________________
For more background:
http://www.mizzima.com/special/kachin-battle-report/8571-naypyitaw-deploys-helicopter-gunships-against-kio.html
http://www.mizzima.com/special/kachin-battle-report/8675-kachins-says-air-strikes-are-continuing.html
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