The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has reported that it shot and directly hit a Junta’s Mi-35 military helicopter in the vicinity of Aungmyay-1 and Aungmyay-2 villages along the Waingmaw-Laiza Road in Kachin State.
According to Colonel Naw Bu, KIA's information officer, the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 pm on March 11. Following the impact of KIA gunfire, the helicopter emitted smoke and retreated, he told MNJ.
"At about 5:00 pm, the helicopter approached Aungmyay-1 and Aungmyay-2 villages in Waingmaw and started shooting at us. We shot back and directly hit the helicopter.
Then it turned around and retreated”, Colonel Naw Bu stated.
Fierce clashes near Aungmyay-1 village rage on, with the Junta resorting to airstrikes against KIA and the combined resistance forces. Amidst escalating military tensions, KIA fighters successfully hit an enemy helicopter.
Colonel Naw Bu mentioned there are rumours about the retreating helicopter catching fire upon reaching the Myitkyina airfield, but there are no witnesses or individuals able to confirm this. He elaborated, "We heard the helicopter caught fire at the Myitkyina airfield.
It sounds true, but there were no witnesses to confirm the situation yet. The ones who shot it down told us they scored a direct hit, and saw smoke coming out.”
On January 3, a KIA frontline outpost successfully shot down a Junta helicopter near Narhpawt hill close to Kantaw village in Waingmaw, resulting in the deaths of the helicopter crew. Similarly, on January 16, KIA successfully shot down a Junta jet fighter near Namhpatkar village in Kutkai Township, located in northern Shan State.
Here is a list published by BNI in February this year
Military Aircraft Shot Down since the Feb 2021 Coup: https://karennews.org/2024/01/bni-list-of-military-council-aircraft-shot...
May 2021 Helicopter downed by KIA - Kachin State • JUNE 2023 K-8W fighter jet fixedwing jet – Karenni resistance – and 2nd K-8W fighter jet fighter shot down November 2023 with one pilot captured • Jan 3rd 2024 KIA shot down another helicopter helicopter flying to a frontline base in Kachin State Waingmaw Township, • Jan 16th 2024 KIA shot down a FTC-2000G light fighter jet in northern Shan State. It had been based at Namshan in Shan State data confirmed by various sources including Janes Intelligence Review.
