List of aircraft shootdowns

This is a list of aircraft shootdowns, dogfights and other incidents during wars since World War II.

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Military aircraft

Cold War (1947–1991)

• Catalina affair (June 1952)
• Air battle over Merklín (March 10, 1953)
• U-2 shootdown incident (May 1, 1960)
• 1964 T-39 shootdown incident (January 28, 1964)
• Gulf of Sidra incident (August 19, 1981)
• Gulf of Sidra incident (January 4, 1989)

The Troubles (1968–1998)

• British Army Gazelle downing (February 17, 1978)
• British Army Gazelle shootdown (February 11, 1990)
• British Army Lynx shootdown (March 20, 1994)

Yom Kippur War (1973)

• Ofira Air Battle (6 October 1973)

Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)

• Turkish AH1W Cobra shootdown (13 May 2016)^[1]

Falklands War (1982)

• British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident (June 6, 1982)
• Argentine air forces shot down in the Falklands War (1982)

Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994)

• Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown (November 20, 1991)

Gulf War (1990–1991)

USAF F-15C vs. IRAF MiG-29 The first air-air kills of the war occurred when two USAF F-15Cs shot down two Iraqi MiG-29s.

USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF Mirage F1s Later on the same night, an F-15C scored a double-kill against two Mirages with AIM-7 Sparrow missile. His wingman scored another kill on a third Mirage F1, for a total of three kills in the dogfight.

USN F/A-18s vs. IRAF MiG-25s On the first night of the war, two F/A-18s from the carrier USS Saratoga were flying outside of Baghdad when two Iraqi MiG-25PDs interceptors from the 96th Squadron engaged them. In the beyond-visual-range (BVR), one of the Iraqi MiGs, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Zuhair Dawood, fired an R-40 missile, shooting down one of the F/A-18's as it was travelling Mach 0.92. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Scott Speicher, was killed. It is widely believed he died upon the impact of the missile.

USN F/A-18s vs. IRAF MiG-21s Two F/A-18s from VFA-81 shot down two Iraqi MiG-21s, one with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile and one with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, in a brief dogfight with their bombs still latched on.

USAF F-15Es vs IRAF MiG-29s On the opening night of the war two Iraqi MiG-29s attempted to engage a flight of USAF F-15Es. One of the MiGs crashed while flying at low altitude but the other MiG pressed on. One of the F-15Es fired an AIM-9 Sidewinder when the MiG locked him up but missed. Several other F-15Es simultaneously tried to engage the lone MiG-29 but were unable to get the kill. One F-15E was actually flying past the Iraqi jet and maneuvered in for the kill but the pilot hesitated to take the shot because he was unsure of his wingmen's location and because he did not get a good tone with the Sidewinder missile.

USAF EF-111 vs. IRAF Mirage F-1 On the first night of the war a USAF EF-111A Raven "Spark Vark", flown by pilot Captain James Denton and Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) Captain Brent Brandon, was on an electronic warfare mission ahead of a group of jets on a bombing run. Several IRAF Dassault Mirage F1s came in and engaged the flight. One of them went after the unarmed EF-111. Denton executed a tight turn while Brandon launched chaff to avoid missiles fired by the Mirage. An F-15C on the same flight, piloted by Robert Graeter, went after the Mirage to protect the EF-111. The Mirage launched a missile, spotted by Brandon, which the Raven avoided by turning and launching chaff. Denton decided to head for the deck to try to evade his pursuer. As he went down he pulled up to avoid the ground, the Mirage followed him through, but did not pull up in time and crashed. An unarmed EF-111 had thus scored an air-air victory against a Dassault Mirage F1, although Graeter was credited with a kill. The EF-111A crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF MiG-25s Two IRAF MiG-25s fired missiles at a group of F-15Cs escorting a bombing run in Iraq (which were evaded by the F-15s). The F-15Cs gave chase, but were forced to give up when the MiGs outran them. A total of 10 missiles were fired at the MiGs.

USAF F-111s vs. IRAF MiG-23 An Iraqi MiG-23 fired a R-24T missile at a F-111 on a bombing run and scored a hit, although the bomber made it safely back to base. Another similar incident occurred with the same Iraqi interceptor several minutes later, this F-111 also made it back to base despite the severe damage to the aircraft. This is Iraq's only success of the Persian Gulf War using MiG-23s.

IRAF MiG-29 vs USAF F-111 and B-52G An Iraqi MiG-29 struck an F-111 aircraft with an R60 missile, though the sturdy F-111 stayed airworthy. Several minutes later the same pilot fired a R27 missile at a B-52G on a bombing run, severely damaging it.[4]

19 January 1991 USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF MiG-25s In a brief dogfight, two F-15Cs engaged and shot down two Iraqi MiG-25s attempting to engage them, both using AIM-7 missiles. One was destroyed by Captain Rick Tuleni and the second by Captain Larry Pitts.

USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF MiG-29s Two F-15Cs, piloted by Captains Craig Underhill and Cesar Rodriguez gave chase to a pair of MiG-29s detected by AWACS. The Iraqi aircraft, one piloted by Captain Jameel Sayhood, promptly turned and engaged the two American fighters, and one of the most dramatic dogfights of the Persian Gulf War ensued. The two MiGs and F-15s flew straight at each other, each attempting to visually identify the other. Underhill was facing Sayhood's wingman, while Sayhood himself was facing Rodriguez. Underhill fired an AIM-7 at Sayhood's wingman, scoring a head-on hit and killing the opposing pilot instantly. Simultaneously, Sayhood gained a lock on Rodriguez, throwing him onto the defensive. Rodriguez dove to low altitude in order to clutter Sayhood's radar and break the lock-on, and dropped flares to counter his adversary's infra-red search-and-track. However, after seeing his wingman shot down, Sayhood disengaged and fled to the north. Considering the engagement over, Rodriguez and Underhill turned south to rendezvous with a KC-135 tanker in order to refuel, but Sayhood reversed course and set off after them, prompting them to reengage. With the now lone MiG-29 closing head-on with the pair of F-15s, Underhill gained radar lock-on, but did not fire due to a glitch in his IFF interrogator system keeping him from being certain he wasn't about to shoot down a Coalition aircraft. Underhill initially thought he shot down an allied aircraft. Sayhood sliced into the American formation, causing a classic merge. Underhill kept Sayhood locked-on and climbed, while Rodriguez committed to the merge in order to visually identify the opposing aircraft as hostile. As they passed head-on, Rodriguez identified it as an Iraqi, and each pilot turned left to engage the other. Sayhood was relying on his MiG's better turning radius to get into a firing position on Rodriguez' tail but Rodriguez was very close to firing position on him. Both aircraft lost altitude through the sustained hard turning, bringing them perilously close to the ground. Fearing that Rodriguez would obtain infra-red lock-on and shoot him down with an AIM-9, Sayhood attempted to disengage using a split-s. Rodriguez didn't match Sayhood's manoeuver, and observed him eject just prior to his MiG impacting the ground - he'd commenced his escape maneuver too low. It was reported years later by Iraqi sources that the Captain was rescued by some farmers after he broke his leg and evacuated to a local hospital.

RAF Tornado GR.1 vs. IRAF MiG-29 It has been claimed by some sources that an RAF Tornado (ZA467) crewed by Squadron Leader Gary Lennox and Squadron Leader Adrian Weeks was shot down on 19 January by an R-60MK (NATO reporting name: AA-8 Aphid) missile fired from an Iraqi MiG-29 piloted by Jameel Sayhood, however this aircraft is officially recorded as having crashed on 22 January on a mission to Ar Rutbah.

USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF Mirage F1s Two F-15Cs destroyed two Mirage F1s with AIM-7 missiles.

24 January 1991 RSAF F-15C vs. IRAF Mirage F1s The Iraqi Air Force attempted to mount a rare offensive bombing operation and loaded two F1s with incendiary bombs. The Royal Saudi Air Force sent up two F-15Cs to intercept the bombers. One of the F-15s piloted by Captain Ayedh Al-Shamrani maneuvered behind the F1s and shot them both down with AIM-9 missiles.

26 January 1991 USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF MiG-23s In what is considered a textbook "beyond visual range" or BVR kill, four MiG-23s took off from an Iraqi airbase. One of them turned back with mechanical problems, however the other three pressed on. Four F-15Cs were flying when AWACS reported the MiGs. The four F-15s lined up, were assigned targets and fired AIM-7 missiles at all of them, destroying all three MiGs within seconds of each other. Only three of the F-15C pilots were granted kills, as the fourth missile didn't reach the MiG until after it had already been brought down.

27 January 1991 USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF MiG-23s and Mirage F1 Two F-15Cs managed to get kills on three MiG-23s and one Mirage F1, after they caught them trying to flee to Iran. They were brought down with AIM-9 and AIM-7 missiles after a brief dogfight.

29 January 1991 USAF F-15C vs. IRAF MiG-23 An American F-15C shot down a MiG-23 fleeing to Iran with an AIM-7 missile.

USAF F-15C vs. IRAF MiG-23 A USAF F-15C eliminates an Iraqi MiG-23 in a short-lived dogfight with an AIM-7 missile.

2 February 1991 USAF F-15C vs. IRAF IL-76 An F-15C kills an Iraqi transport, an IL-76, that was parked by strafing it with 20mm bullets.

6 February 1991 USAF F-15C vs. IRAF MiG-21s A lone F-15C takes down two Iraqi MiG-21s with AIM-7 missiles after they both engage him. These MiGs were escorting the Su-25s mentioned below.

USAF F-15C vs. IRAF Su-25s A F-15C spots two Iraqi Su-25s and gives chase, locking on, and shooting down both planes with AIM-9 missiles.

USAF A-10A vs. IRAF Bo-105 A USAF A-10 ground attack aircraft, shoots down an Iraqi Bo-105 helicopter using its GAU-8 30mm cannon.

7 February 1991 USN F-14 vs. IRAF Mi-8 A USN F-14 shoots down an IRAF Mi-8 helicopter with an AIM-9 missile. It is the last USN F-14 air-to-air kill.

USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF Su-22s and Su-7 Two USAF F-15Cs shoot down two IRAF Su-22s and one Su-7 as they attempt to flee Iraq. All with AIM-7 missiles.

USAF F-15C vs. IRAF Mil-24 A F-15C shoots down an IRAF Mi-24 with an AIM-7 missile.

11 February 1991 USAF F-15Cs vs. IRAF helicopters Two F-15Cs shoot down two unidentified Iraqi helicopters by using AIM-7 missiles for both.

14 February 1991 USAF F-15E vs. IRAF Hughes 500 An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter/bomber dropped a laser-guided bomb onto a Hughes 500 helicopter in the air. The helicopter was on the ground initially loading up commandos, though it took off. Even with it taking off they left the laser on it and the bomb hit it when it was "200 or so" feet in the air. A special forces team on the ground witnessed the event.

15 February 1991 USAF A-10A vs. IRAF Mi-8 An A-10A ground attack aircraft shoots down an Iraqi Mi-8 helicopter with its GAU-8 30mm cannon.

Iraqi no-fly zones (1991–2003)

20 March 1991 - USAF F-15C vs. IRAF Su-22 - In accordance with the ceasefire, an F-15C shoots down an Iraqi Su-22 bomber with an AIM-9 missile.

27 December 1992 - USAF F-16 vs. IRAF MiG-25 - A MiG-25 crossed the no-fly zone and an F-16D shot it down with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. It is the first kill with an AIM-120, and also the first USAF F-16 kill.

17 January 1993 - USAF F-16 vs. IRAF MiG-23 - A USAF F-16C shoots down a MiG-23 when the MiG locks the F-16 up. 17 January 1993 - USAF F-16s vs. IRAF Su-22s - Two IRAF Su-22 "Fitters" open fire on two USAF F-16s in protest of the no-fly zones. No aircraft are damaged in the encounter.

UH-60 Black Hawk friendly fire shootdown incident (14 April 1994)

5 January 1999 - USAF F-15Cs and USN F-14Ds vs. IRAF MiG-25s - A group of four Iraqi MiG-25s crossed the no-fly zones and sparked a dogfight with two patrolling F-15Cs and two patrolling F-14Ds. A total of six missiles were fired at the MiGs, none of which hit them. The MiGs then bugged out.

9 September 1999 - USN F-14 vs IRAF MiG-23 - A lone MiG-23 crossed the no-fly zone heading towards a flight of F-14s. One F-14 fired an AIM-54 Phoenix at the MiG but missed and the MiG headed back north.

23 December 2002 - USAF RQ-1 Predator vs. IRAF MiG-25 - In what was the last aerial victory for the Iraqi Air Force before Operation Iraqi Freedom, an Iraqi MiG-25 destroyed an American UAV RQ-1 Predator after the drone opened fire on the Iraqi aircraft with a Stinger missile.

Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995)

• 1992 European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing (January 7, 1992)

Bosnian War (1992–1995)

• Banja Luka incident (February 28, 1994)
• Mrkonjić Grad incident (June 1995)

NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (1999)

• 1999 F-117A shoot-down (March 27, 1999)

Second Chechen War (1999–2009)

• Khankala Mi-26 shootdown (August 19, 2002)

Iraq War (2003–2011)

Shootdowns in 2003

• United States Army Aviation – 23 March 2003: AH-64D Apache 85-25407 from C Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division was shot down during attack on the Iraqi Republican Guard. The two pilots were taken prisoner.^[2] The helicopter was supposedly destroyed by Coalition forces, but Iraqi TV showed an AH-64 being taken to Baghdad on a low loader.^[3]

• Royal Air Force – 23 March 2003: Tornado GR.4A ZG710 'D' of 13 Squadron was shot down by a US Patriot missile in a friendly fire incident, killing the pilot and navigator, both from 9 Squadron. The aircraft's electronic signature was not recognized by the Patriot's identification friend or foe system, resulting in the shootdown.^[4]

• United States Army Aviation – 2 April 2003: UH-60L Black Hawk 94-26557 from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd CAB, 3rd Infantry Division was shot down near Karbala, killing 7 soldiers and injuring 4 more.^[5]

• United States Air Force – 2 April 2003: F/A-18C Block 46 Hornet 164974 of VFA-195 was shot down by either a US Patriot missile or an Iraqi missile at which the patriot missile was launched in a possible friendly fire incident, killing the pilot.^[4][6]

• United States Air Force – 8 April 2003: A-10A 78-0691 of 124th Wing/190th FS shot down by an Iraqi Roland surface to air missile; the pilot survived and was rescued.^[7]

• Civil operator – 21 April 2003: A Bulgarian Mil Mi-8 is shot down north of Baghdad, killing the 11 civilians on board. Casualties consisted of six American contractors, three Bulgarian pilots – one of whom is executed shortly after the crash – and two Fijian gunners.^[8][9][10]

• United States Army Aviation – 12 June 2003: An AH-64D Apache of 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was shot down near Duluiyah, north of Baghdad, both crewmembers survive.^[11][12]

• United States Army Aviation – 25 October 2003: UH-60L Black Hawk 96-26653 From B company, 3rd Battalion, 158 Aviation Regiment of the 12th Aviation BDE crashes and burns out after being hit by an SA-7 missile near Tikrit, 1 soldier injured.^[13]

• United States Army Aviation – 2 November 2003: CH-47D Chinook 91-0230 of Detachment 1, F Company, 106th Aviation Brigade shot down with an SA-7 missile near Fallujah; 16 soldiers killed, 26 wounded.^[14][15][16]

• United States Army Aviation – 7 November 2003: UH-60L Black Hawk 92-26431 from 5–101 Aviation Regiment shot down by a MANPADS near Tikrit; all four crew, and both passengers from the Department of the Army are killed.^[17]

• United States Army Aviation – 9 December 2003: An OH-58 Kiowa helicopter is hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, forcing a crash landing. Both crewmembers survive.^[18][19]

Shootdowns in 2004

• United States Army Aviation – 2 January 2004: OH-58D Kiowa 90-0370 from 1–82 Aviation Brigade, 1–17 Cavalry Regiment shot down near Fallujah, killing a pilot.^[20]

• United States Army Aviation – 8 January 2004: UH-60 Black Hawk 86-24488 from 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was shot down near Fallujah, killing 9 crew and passengers.^[21][22][23]

• United States Army Aviation – 13 January 2004: AH-64 Apache from 4th Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment was shot down near Habbaniyah, the pilots were rescued.^[24][25]

• United States Army Aviation – 19 March 2004: AH-6J 25364, 1-160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, shot down vicinity of Amiriyah by an unknown surface-to-air missile while conducting precision close air support during day operations. Both pilots were rescued by Special Operations forces.

• United States Army Aviation – 11 April 2004: AH-64D Apache 02-5301 from C Company, 1–227 Aviation Regiment, 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division shot down west of Baghdad, killing both pilots.^[26]

• United States Army Aviation – 12 April 2004: MH-53M Pave Low 69-5797 of 16th Special Operations Wing/20th Special Operations Squadron was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade near Fallujah, three on board were wounded, and the helicopter was later destroyed.^[27][28]

• United States Navy – 24 June 2004: AH-1W SuperCobra 163939 was forced to land after receiving hostile fire in Fallujah. Both pilots were rescued safely, the fate of the helicopter is unknown.^[29]

• United States Army Aviation – 4 September 2004: OH-58D Kiowa (3–17 CAV) shot down over Tal Afar, Iraq; both pilots safe. Incident highlighted in TV Documentary Kiowa Down.^[30]

• United States Navy – 8 September 2004: CH-46E Sea Knight 153372 Shot down by RPG Fire South of Camp Fallujah, crashes and is burned out near Al-Buaisa. All four crew members injured.^[31][32]

• United States Army Aviation – 9 November 2004: US OH-58D Kiowa shot down by rocket fire over Fallujah.^[33]

• United States Marine Corps – 11 November 2004: AH-1W SuperCobra 161021 from HMLA-169 is shot down by RPG and small arms fire near Fallujah. It is destroyed by Iraqi rebel forces, crew recovered intact.^[34]

• United States Army Aviation – 12 November 2004: UH-60A Black Hawk from 1–106th Aviation Regiment shot down northeast of Baghdad, wounding three of the four crew members.^[35]

Shootdowns in 2005

• Royal Air Force – 30 January 2005: A British C-130K Hercules C.1P XV179 is shot down north of Baghdad, killing 9 Royal Air Force crew and one British soldier.^[36][37]

• United States Army Aviation – 26 May 2005: An OH-58D(I) Kiowa 93-0989 from 1–17th Cavalry Regiment is shot down with small arms near Baquba, killing the two crewmen.^[38][39]

• United States Army Aviation – 27 June 2005: An AH-64D Apache from 3–3rd Aviation Regiment is shot down by a shoulder-fired missile near Mishahda, killing the two pilots.^[40][41]

• United States Marine Corps – 2 November 2005: AH-1W SuperCobra 165321 from HMLA-369 was shot down near Ramadi, killing the two pilots.^[42][43]

Shootdowns in 2006

• United States Army Aviation – 13 January 2006: OH-58D Kiowa 95-0021 from 1–10th Aviation Regiment shot down outside Forward Operating Base Courage, outside Mosul, killing the two pilots.^[44]

• United States Army Aviation – 16 January 2006: AH-64D Apache 03-5385 from B Company, 1–4th Aviation Regiment shot down north of Baghdad, killing the two pilots.^[40][45]

• United States Army Aviation – 1 April 2006: an AH-64D Apache from 4–4th Aviation Regiment shot down southwest of Baghdad, killing the two crewmen.^[40]

• Royal Navy – 6 May 2006: A Westland Lynx AH.7 from 847 Squadron is shot down with a SA-14 over Basra, killing five crewmen and crashing into a house.^[46][47]

• United States Army Aviation – 14 May 2006: An AH-6M Little Bird (OH-6 Cayuse) from 1–160th SOAR shot down during combat operations in Yusufiyah, southwest of Baghdad, killing the two crewmen.^[48]

• United States Army Aviation – 13 July 2006: AH-64D Apache from 4–4th Aviation Regiment shot down south of Baghdad. The two pilots survive.^[49]

Shootdowns in 2007

• United States Army Aviation – 20 January 2007: A UH-60 Black Hawk from C Company, 1–131 Aviation Regiment^[50] shot down by a combination of several heavy machine guns and a shoulder-fired missile north-east of Baghdad. All 12 crew and passengers on board are killed in the incident.^[50][51]

• United States Army Aviation – 25 January 2007: A UH-60 Black Hawk shot down by gunfire near Hit. All aboard survive the incident.^[52]

• United States Army Aviation – 28 January 2007: AH-64D Apache from 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division shot down by hostile fire during the Battle of Najaf, killing the two pilots.^[53]

• Blackwater USA – 23 January 2007: A Blackwater USA MD 530F helicopter is shot down by hostile fire in Baghdad. All of the 5-man crew are killed in the incident, likely executed after surviving the crash. One survivor was also killed under unclear circumstances, when another Blackwater helicopter descended to the crash site.^[54][55]

• Blackwater USA – 31 January 2007: A Blackwater USA Bell 412 helicopter is shot down under fire near Karma during a flight between Al Hillah and Baghdad. A US military helicopter rescues the passengers and crew.^[56][57]

• United States Army Aviation – 2 February 2007: AH-64D Apache 02-5337 from A Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division shot down by a combination of gunfire and a shoulder-fired missile, near Taji, killing the two pilots.^[58][59][60]

• United States Marine Corps – 7 February 2007: A CH-46E Sea Knight from HMM-364 is shot down, by a shoulder-fired missile, in al-Karma, outside Fallujah, killing all 7 on board. (see picture above)^[61][62][63]

• United States Army Aviation – 21 February 2007: A UH-60 Black Hawk is hit by RPG and small arms fire north of Baghdad and makes a hard landing; all nine military personnel on board were rescued.^[64][65]

• United States Army Aviation – 5 April 2007: A UH-60 Black Hawk carrying nine is shot down in Latifiya using anti-aircraft heavy machine guns, 4 were wounded.^[66][67][68]

• United States Army Aviation – 29 May 2007: An OH-58D(R) Kiowa 93-0978 from B Troop, 2–6 Cavalry Regiment is shot down between Baquba and Muqdadiyah with small arms, killing the chopper's two pilots.^[69][70][38]

• United States Army Aviation – 2 July 2007: OH-58D Kiowa 91-0560 from 3–17 Cavalry Regiment is shot down along a canal south of Baghdad in Babil province with small arms, both pilots were rescued by strapping themselves onto the stub wings of an AH-64 Apache. Helicopter was later destroyed.^[71][72]

Shootdowns in 2008

• Iraqi Air Force – 27 March 2008: An Iraqi military Mil Mi-17 helicopter is shot down during heavy fighting in northern Basra.^[73]

War in Donbass (2014–present)

• Ukrainian Army Aviation - 2 May 2014: Two Mil Mi-24 helicopters were shot down during large-scale operations during the Siege of Sloviansk.^[74] Rebels claimed they had taken one of the pilot captive.^[75] The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that two helicopters had been shot down, resulting in the deaths of two airmen.^[76]
• Ukrainian Army Aviation - 5 May 2014: A Mil Mi-24 crashed after it was shot down by a heavy machine gun manned by rebel forces. The helicopter crash landed in a river, which allowed all crew members to survive.^[77][78]
• Ukrainian Army Aviation - 29 May 2014: A Mil Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by rebel forces between Kramatorsk and Mount Karachun, killing 14 on board, among them General Vladimir Kultchysky. Another soldier was seriously injured but survived the crash.^[79]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 6 June 2014: An Antonov An-30 surveillance plane was shot down by Separatist militias from Slaviansk with two shoulder-launched missiles. Ukrainian authorities initially claimed that the pilots survived,^[80][81] but they later reported that five crewmembers were killed in the action, and two others missing.^[82]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 14 June 2014: An Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane was shot down as it approached an airport in Luhansk, killing nine crew members and 40 troops on board.^[83]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 14 June 2014: Rebels claim to have shot down a Sukhoi Su-24 with a portable anti-aircraft gun after it had dropped cluster munitions on a local police station. They also claim the pilot had bailed out and they sent out a search missue after him.^[84]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 19 June 2014: A spokesman for the militia in Donetsk stated that they downed a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 during the battle in Yampil.^[85]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 24 June 2014: The Ukrainian military says one of its helicopters, a Mil Mi-8, had been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the east near Sloviansk, killing all nine people on board,^[86]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 14 July 2014: A Ukrainian Antonov An-26 transport aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine while flying at 6,500 metres (21,300 ft). The Ukrainian defence minister claimed that the altitude is far from the reach of a shoulder-launched missile, suggesting that the aircraft was downed by Russian forces.^[87][88][89] Two crewmembers were captured by pro-Russian militiamen, four were rescued by Ukrainian forces and the other two were unaccounted for.^[90] The missing aviators were found dead on 17 July.^[91]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 16 July 2014: A Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, and the pilot ejected successfully. National Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that it was shot down by a missile fired from a Russian Sukhoi Su-27.^[92][93]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 23 July 2014: Two Sukhoi Su-25 strike fighters were shot down in the rebel-held area of Savur-Mohyla. Ukrainian authorities claimed that they were hit by long-range anti-aircraft missiles launched from Russia.^[94][95] Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said later in an interview that one of the fighters was probably shot down by an air-to-air missile.^[96]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 7 August 2014: Pro-Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 with a "Buk" surface-to-air missile near the town of Yenakievo. The pilot managed to eject.^[97] and separatist sources later claimed he was captured and interrogated.^[98]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 17 August 2014: A Mikoyan MiG-29 was shot down by rebels in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine returning after completing a successful mission. The pilot managed to eject and was found by a search and rescue operation.^[99]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 20 August 2014: A Sukhoi Su-24M was shot down by rebel forces in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. The two crewmembers ejected successfully.^[100]
• Ukrainian Army Aviation - 20 August 2014: A Mil Mi-24 helicopter was shot down in near the town of Horlivka according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. Both pilots died in the attack.^[101]
• Ukrainian Air Force - 29 August 2014: A Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard.^[102]

Syrian Civil War (2011–present)

Shootdowns in 2012

• Turkish Air Force ‐ 22 June 2012: A Turkish RF-4E Phantom reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by the Syrian Arab Air Defense over the sea near the Turkish-Syrian border while on mission. Both pilots were killed.^[103]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 13 August 2012: The first recorded fixed-wing aircraft loss during the Syrian Civil War. A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 was filmed catching fire in flight, while automatic gunfire was heard on the background while the fighter aircraft was flying at low altitude in a level flight. The pilot ejected, and was captured and interrogated by the rebels on video.^[104]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 27 August 2012: The first recorded loss of a helicopter during the Syrian Civil War. A video recorded a burning Mil Mi-8 or Mil Mi-17 helicopter spiraling to the ground over Damascus, possibly hit by a ZU-23-2 antiaircraft gun.^[105]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 30 August 2012: The first loss of a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 in the Syrian Civil War. Its registration was 2271. It was likely downed on take off or landing at Abu Dhuhur air base, under siege by rebels, by heavy machine gun fire.^[106]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 4 September 2012: A second Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, registered 2280, was shot down. It was likely downed on take off or landing at Abu Dhuhur air base, under siege by rebels, by KPV 14.5 mm machine gun fire.^[107]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 13 October 2012: The first recorded loss of an L-39ZA Albatros during the Syrian Civil War, possibly by 23 milimeter anti-aircraft fire, occurred near Khan al-Asal with the crew, Lt. Col. Haitham Ismail Zhuneida and Lt. Mohammed Salman Mohammed, being killed as they ejected at low altitude.^[108][109]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 15 October 2012: Another L-39 Albatros was downed near al-Taana in the east of Aleppo by rebel ground fire.^[110] Both pilots, Cap. Roni Ibrahim and Maj. Moti Shaaban Abbas, ejected and were captured. An Al Jazeera reporter, which reported the aircraft as a "MiG", managed to interview Ibrahim, while Abbas is said to have died in captivity. Ibrahim showed signs of having brawled with his captors and denied previous knowledge of Syrian civilians being targeted by airstrikes.^[108][111]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 17 October 2012: A Mil Mi-8 helicopter was shot down over Damascus, dramatically exploding in mid-air. It was likely hit by heavy machine gun fire with some of its improvised aerial barrel bombs exploding.^[112]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 28 November 2012: A video showing the crash site of a large jet fighter was posted with rebels claiming they shot it down with an 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS. The heavily burned out aircraft wreck has been identified as a Sukhoi Su-24MK2, being the first downed Syrian Air Force Su-24.^[113]

Shootdowns in 2013

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 14 February 2013: The first confirmed loss of a Sukhoi Su-22 was recorded, when rebel forces shot it down using a MANPADS launcher.^[114][115]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 16 September 2013: A Mil Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 in Latakia province near Turkish boder.^[116] At least part of the crew bailed out of the stricken helicopter while it was spiraling to the ground. They were believed to have been captured and beheaded by Al Qaeda-linked insurgents.

Shootdowns in 2014

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 16 January 2014: Insurgents claim they shot down a helicopter with a surface-to-air missile was recorded with a video showing a 9K33 Osa SAM system downing a Syrian Mil Mi-8 or Mil Mi-17 helicopter. The heavy damage on the plunging helicopter appeared to confirm the use of a bigger missile to hit the helicopter compared to the damage caused by MANPADS, AAA or small arms fire. Also, a video filming the TV screen inside the Osa vehicle matches another video taken outside. Another video of a different engagement surfaced on 18 January 2014, this time missing the intended target.^[117]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 23 March 2014: A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16, when it allegedly entered Turkish air space during a ground attack mission against Al Qaeda-linked insurgents.^[118] The pilot ejected and managed to return to a Syrian Army checkpoint and denies violating Turkish air space. The plane crashed one kilometer inside the Syrian side^[119][120]

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 18 September 2014: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed for the first time that it shot down a war plane conducting an airstrike on Raqqa city.^[121]

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 23 September 2014: A Sukhoi Su-24 was shot down by an Israeli Air Force MIM-104 Patriot Air Defense system, when it allegedly crossed the Syrian-Israeli ceasefire line during a ground attack mission against Al Qaeda insurgents.^[122]
• Royal Jordanian Air Force - 24 December 2014: A Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16AM crashed near Raqqa, Syria, and its pilot, Flight Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh, was captured by Islamic State militants and burned alive.^[123] Initially reported as shot down by enemy fire, the ISIL reported it downed the F-16 with a MANPADS while it was flying at low altitude. Later, the US CENTCOM rejected the claim, ruling out hostile fire as the cause of the crash, without further details.^[124]

Shootdowns in 2015

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 18 January 2015: A Syrian Air Force Antonov An-26 transport plane crashed attempting to land at the besieged Abu al-Duhur military airport, killing all 35 soldiers on board.^[125][126] The cause of the crash was disputed, with the government blaming the crash to heavy fog while Al-Nusra claiming they shot it down.
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 30 January 2015: ISIS claimed it shot down a Syrian Air Force fighter in the Bir Qassab area of Damascus.^[127]
• United States Air Force - 17 March 2015: a US MQ-1 Predator drone was shot down by a Syrian Air Defense Force S-125 missile while on intelligence flight near the coastal town of Latakia.^[128]
• Syrian Arab Navy - 22 March 2015: A Syrian Navy Mil Mi-14 helicopter crashed or was downed over opposition held rural Idlib. At least 1 crew member was summarily executed on the spot, 4 were taken captive, and 1 remains unaccounted for.^[129][130] Mil Mi-14 crews tried to employ naval mines as improvised aerial bombs by dropping them from high altitude towards a target area with poor results.
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 24 April 2015: ISIS downed a Syrian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML flying east of Khalkhalah air base in Sweida province. Pro - ISIS Twitter accounts claimed jihadist groups had captured the pilot, but later evidence suggested the pilot, Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, shot himself to avoid capture.^[131][132] State Television say the aircraft crashed due to "technical problems" on a training exercise and that the search for the pilot was ongoing.^[133][134]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 16 May 2015: Two Turkish Air Force F-16s shot down a Syrian Mohajer 4 UAV firing two AIM-9 missiles after it trespassed into Turkish airspace for 5 minutes. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the target after being hit by the chasing F-16s breaking in three before crashing on the Syrian side of the border. Initially Turkey claimed it was a helicopter, but later confirmed it was an UAV.^[135][136]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 24 May 2015: A Syrian military Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed near the Kweyris air base in Aleppo, which ISIL has besieged for over a year. All the crew composed of three people died. While the government claims it crashed due to technical failure, ISIL sources claim it was shot down.^[137]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 11 June 2015: a Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 exploded in midair and crashed in the eastern countryside of Dara'a near Nahta village. While the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army brigade Yarmouk Army claimed they shot it down when passing over the Brigade 52 base with 23mm AA fire, the damage suggests a midair weapon explosion as the cause of the crash.^[138][139] The Syrian Media Organisation captured footage of the Su-24 going down.^[140]

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 15 September 2015: a Syrian Mil Mi-17 helicopter was shot down when it was hit by a MANPADS shortly after take off. A first shot strayed away, while a second missile shot the aircraft down killing the crew.^[141]
• On 17 September 2015, a Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-22M4 crashed near the Jazal Oil Field area. Insurgents claimed they shot it down.^[142]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 8 October 2015: A Syrian helicopter was downed near the village of Kafr Nabouda in northern Hama.^[143]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 4 November 2015: a Syrian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, was downed by AA fire in northwest Hama, near the town of Kafr Nabuda, where fighting has been raging between insurgents and government forces backed by air cover. The pilot was killed in action.^[144]
• Russian Air Force - 24 November 2015: A Russian Sukhoi Su-24M was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 near the Syria–Turkey border, with both sides arguing about the actual position of the stricken aircraft, either hit on the Turkish or Syrian side of the border. Both crew members ejected, the pilot was killed by ground fire while descending while the Weapon System Officer was rescued by a CSAR mission.^[145]
• Russian Navy - 24 November 2015: Two Russian Mil Mi-8AMTsh helicopters were sent to find and recover the pilots from the crash site of the Sukhoi Su-24M downed before. One of the helicopters was damaged by small-arms fire from Syrian Turkmen Brigade militants, resulting in the death of a naval infantryman, and was forced to make an emergency landing.^[146][147] All the surviving crew of the helicopter were rescued and evacuated later on.^[148] The Free Syrian Army's 1st Coastal Division claimed that they subsequently destroyed the abandoned helicopter using a US-made BGM-71 TOW missile.^[149]

Shootdowns in 2016

• Syrian Arab Air Force - 12 March 2016: A Syrian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was shot down by Jaysh al-Nasr over Hama near Kafr Nabudah. There were conflicting accounts of how it was brought down, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the warplane had been downed by two heat-seeking missiles, while Jaysh al-Nasr militants say they shot it down with anti-aircraft guns.^[150] Video evidence suggesting it was a MANPADS. It seems the pilot ejected, but died, either killed by ground fire while descending or other causes.^[151]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 5 April 2016: The al-Nusra Front reportedly downed a Sukhoi Su-22 jet likely using a MANPADS in Aleppo near al-Eiss village while on a reconnaissance mission.^[152][153] The pilot was captured by rebel forces.^[154] Some sources state that the plane was actually downed by Ahrar Al-Sham, a coalition of Islamist and Salafist units, and handed to Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra.^[155]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 22 April 2016: A Syrian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML of No. 67 squadron piloted by Capt. Azzam Eid and operating from Al-Dumayr Military Airport, serial 2754, crashed to the east of Dakwa mounts in the eastern countryside of Damascus. An engine failure was blamed to be the cause of the crash according to the Syrian Armed Forces, while the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed it was shot down with an Anti Aircraft weapon, but apparently did not claim responsibility.^[156] The pilot ejected and was likely captured by enemy forces.^[157]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 1 July 2016: a Syrian Mi-25 was shot down by rebels in Jurud Al-Qalamoun resulting in the death of three crew members.^[158]
• Russian Air Force - 8 July 2016: a Russian Mi-35M crashed after its tail rotor was severed off by an explosion during a rocket attack against IS positions near Palmyra. Based on the video, it may have been shot down by Islamic State militants or suffered self-destruction by a misfired roket, a friendly fire theory has also been suggested. Both Russian pilots were killed. According to the statement released by the Russian MoD, it was a Syrian Mi-25 helicopter with a Russian crew undergoing flight testing, but being called into action to attack a large group of insurgents near Palmyra.^[159][160] However the video released later, clearly shows a Mi-24 variant with fixed/extended landing gears during a rocket attack, pointing to a Russian Mi-35M version.^[161]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 20 July 2016: a Syrian L-39ZO operating from T4 AB and piloted by Col. Salman Suleiman and 1st Ltnt. Ghadir Eid is shot down by anti-aircraft artillery in eastern rural of Hama governorate resulting in the death of both pilots.^[162]
• Russian Air Force - 1 August 2016: a Russian Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopter was shot down by ground fire in the Idlib Governorate while returning to the Khmeimim Air Base. Three crew members and two officers from Russia's Reconciliation Center in Syria were killed on what was a humanitarian mission, according to Russia's Ministry of Defence.^[163]
• Syrian Arab Air Force - 2 September 2016: rebels released footage of a TOW ATGM hitting SyAAF Aérospatiale Gazelle while landing on an airstrip near Khattab in Northern Hama.^[164] The helicopter exploded in mid-air and both pilots were killed.

Civilian aircraft

• List of airliner shootdown incidents – dealing with civilian airliners

See also

• List of Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan
• List of Russian aircraft losses in the Second Chechen War
• List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Iraq War
• List of Coalition aircraft losses in Afghanistan

Notes