The Russian Defense Ministry said a Mi-8 helicopter was shot down during a mission on Monday in Syria, killing all five on board. Video released online by Syrian rebels shows the flaming wreckage of the aircraft, reportedly near Aleppo. The defense ministry said the armed helicopter was on a humanitarian mission delivering supplies to Aleppo. The crew “died heroically because they tried to move the aircraft away so to minimize losses on the ground,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to The Associated Press. Russia has lost multiple aircraft during its campaign in Syria, with another helicopter shot down last month.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
