A Russian Su-35 shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter

A Russian Su-35 shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone

A Russian Su-35 fighter jet shot down a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter in the Voronezh region, mistaking it for a drone. All three crew members of the helicopter were killed, Russian Telegram channels report, in particular Fighterbomber, which is linked to Russian military aviation.

According to the insider channel "Dosye Shpiona" ("Spy's Dossier"), the incident occurred on October 1 during the repelling of a massive drone attack. The Su-35 crew mistakenly identified the Mi-8 as a UAV and opened fire on it. The helicopter crashed in the Anninsky district of the Voronezh region, about 80 km from Voronezh. There were three people on board — the pilot, the navigator and the gunner. All of them were killed.

Fighterbomber did not directly name the cause, but wrote that it was "classic," mentioning "friend-or-foe" identification systems.

"The cause is the classic one, which humanity is unlikely ever to overcome, despite AI, robots, neural networks, 'friend-or-foe' systems and other wonders of science and technology."

The Telegram channel "Oko Gora" ("Eye of Horus") writes that the Mi-8 was on the landing pad and began taking off after a drone threat was announced, after which it came under fire from the Su-35. According to the channel, the helicopter was mistaken for a drone.

Source: The Insider