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On November 12, 2014, a Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter participating in the week-long joint Armenian-NKR Unity 2014 military exercises in the disputed region was shot down by the Azerbaijani military, killing all three crew members. A statement released by Azerbaijan's defense ministry claimed the helicopter was preparing to attack Azerbaijani positions in the Aghdam district. This was dismissed by Armenian and NKR defense ministry officials, who stated that the helicopter was not armed and did not enter Azerbaijani airspace. Analyst Thomas de Waal described the shoot-down as the "the worst military incident in more than 20 years since the cease-fire." On the same day footage appeared in the Azerbaijani media purporting to show the moment of the shoot down. Two Mi-24s are seen flying parallel to the line of contact, as the launch of a surface-to-air missile, identified as an Igla-S MANPAD, is heard off screen and one of the helicopters is struck and crashes to the ground.

Prior to the shootdown, Azeri forces continued firing at the crashsight, preventing Armenian forces from retrieving the bodies for several days. On 22 November 2014, units of Armenian special forces successfully recovered the slain bodies of the three Armenian pilots, along with parts of the helicopter. During the operation, two Azeri soldiers who tried to prevent the recovery of the remains of the pilots had been killed. The Armenian side did not sustain any casualties.

The three killed officers were buried with full military honors on November 25 in Yerevan's Yerablur military cemetery. A day earlier their bodies were placed at the Saint Sarkis Church in Nor Nork District for a farewell ceremony which was attended by President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and other officials.

Reactions

•  Armenia — The Foreign Ministry "strongly condemned" the shootdown and added that "The Azerbaijani side is grossly violating the commitments on the peaceful resolution of the conflict reached during the recent summits." Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovannisian warned that "The consequences of this unprecedented escalation of tension will be very painful for Azerbaijan."

References

1. ^ "Armenian Helicopter Shot Down Near Karabakh." RFE/RL. November 12, 2014.
2. "Azerbaijan Risks New Armenia Conflict as Chopper Downed." Bloomberg. November 12, 2014.
3. Template:Az icon "Azerbaijani Troops blow Armenian attack helicopter up (with English subtitles)." YouTube. Accessed November 13, 2014.
4. "Bodies of Armenian pilots removed from helicopter crash site". Reuters. 22 November 2014.
5. "Helicopter Crew Laid to Rest at Yerablur". Asbarez. 25 November 2014.
6. Abrahamyan, Gohar (25 November 2014). "R.I.P.: Armenian helicopter crew killed in Karabakh buried with military honors". ArmeniaNow.
7. "Armenia Buries Helicopter Crew With Military Honors". RFE/RL. 25 November 2014.
8. "Service for killed Armenian pilots held at Yerevan church". ArmeniaNow. 25 November 2014.
9. "Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. 12 November 2014.

• Aircraft shootdown incidents