Three soldiers of the Algerian Air Force lost their lives in an accident involving a Russian-made helicopter, which occurred last Wednesday night in the south of the country.
According to witnesses, the helicopter was hit by a rocket or a surface-to-air missile. The area was quickly secured by forces of the Algerian National Army (ANP).
According to a press release from the Algerian Ministry of Defense, the MI-171 helicopter was carrying out a planned night training flight near El-Menia airport, located in the southeast of the country.
The victims were identified as Colonel Amara Réda, Lieutenant-Colonel Djalal Yacine, and Sergeant Belgharbi Mohamed, according to a press release from the Algerian Ministry of Defense.
The press release specifies that: “During a planned night training flight, an MI-171 type military combat helicopter belonging to the Air Force Command crashed on the evening of February 7, 2024, around 9:00 p.m. near El-Menia airport in the 4th Military Region where we deplore the martyrdom of the crew composed of (03) three members.
This incident recalls a tragic precedent that occurred on January 23, 2023, where a helicopter of the same type “crashed” near the town of El Attaf in the wilaya (governorate) of Aïn Defla, west of Algiers. The three crew members also died in this accident.
