List of aircraft shootdowns


This is a list of aircraft shootdowns, dogfights and other incidents during wars since World War II. An aircraft shootdown occurs when an aircraft is struck by a projectile launched or fired from another aircraft or from the ground which causes the targeted aircraft to lose its ability to continue flying normally, and then subsequently crashing into land or sea, often resulting in severe injury or death of the occupants on board. This list does not cover aircraft destroyed during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or Gulf War.

Military aircraft

Cold War (1945–1991)

The helicopter was later repaired and flown back to base

[Football War] (1969)

  • 17 July 1969 – Honduran Air Force Corsair pilots Captain Fernando and his wingman Captain Edgardo Acosta Soto engaged two Salvadoran TF-51D Cavalier Mustang IIs who were attacking another Corsair while it was strafing ground targets south of Tegucigalpa. Soto entered a turning engagement with one Mustang and blew off its left wing with three bursts of 20 mm cannon, killing pilot Captain Douglas Varela when his parachute did not fully deploy. Later that day the pair spotted two Salvadoran FG-1D Corsairs. They jettisoned hard point stores before climbing and made a diving attack, Soto set one Corsair on fire only to find its wingman on his tail. An intense dogfight between them ended when Soto entered a Split-S giving him a firing solution which he used to shoot down Captain Guillermo Reynaldo Cortez, who died when his FG-1 exploded.

    [The Troubles] (Late 1960s–1998)

  • Gazelle downing|British Army Gazelle downing]
  • British Army Lynx shootdown
  • British Army Gazelle shootdown
  • British Army Lynx shootdown
  • British Army Lynx shootdown
  • RAF Puma shootdown

    [Yom Kippur War] (1973)

  • ' 6 October 1973 – Ofira Air Battle
  • ', /2 ) 14 October 1973 – Al Mansoura Air Battle

    Cyprus Conflict (1963–1974)

  • 8 August 1964 – On 8 August 1964, during the Battle of Tylliria, a Turkish F-100 Super Sabre piloted by Captain Cengiz Topel was hit by 40 mm anti-aircraft fire while strafing the Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. The pilot was able to eject from his aircraft and made a safe parachute jump over land, where he was allegedly tortured to death by Greek Cypriot soldiers.
  • 20 July 1974 – During the first day of the conflict, F-100D 55-3756 of 171.Filo and F-100C 54-2042 of 132.Filo were shot down by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft fire.
  • 20 July 1974 – During the first day of the Turkish air campaign, three transport planes – C-47 No.6035, a C-130 of 222.Filo and a C-160 of 221.Filo were damaged by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft fire. All three salvaged, but played no further part in the conflict.
  • 20 July 1974 – During the first day of the conflict, RF-84F 52-7327 of 184.Filo was shot down by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft fire.
  • 20 July 1974 – During the first day of the conflict, a Dornier Do-28D of the Turkish Air Force was shot down north-west of Nicosia.
  • 21 July 1974 – F-100D 55-2825 of 111.Filo, F-100C 54-2083 of 112.Filo and F-104G 64-17783 of 191.Filo were shot down by Turkish Navy destroyers.
  • 22 July 1974 – Turkish F-100D Super Sabres 54-2238 of 172.Filo and 54-22?? of 171.Filo were lost in action on 22 July over Cyprus due to enemy fire.
  • 22 July 1974 – Two transport aircraft were accidentally damaged by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft fire. They managed to land safely in Crete but played no further part in the conflict.

    [Western Sahara War] (1975–1991)

  • 21 January 1976 – A Moroccan Northrop F-5 was shot down by the Polisario Front using SA-7 Strela missiles.
  • 18 February 1978 – A Moroccan Northrop F-5 was shot down by the Polisario Front.
  • 10 October 1978 – A Moroccan Northrop F-5 was shot down by the Polisario Front using SA-7 Strela missiles.
  • 10 February 1979 – A Moroccan Northrop F-5 was shot down by the Polisario Front.
  • 12 October 1981 – A Moroccan Dassault Mirage F1 was shot down by the Polisario Front.
  • 13 October 1981 – A Moroccan Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Northrop F-5 a were shot down by the Polisario Front using Soviet-made missiles.
  • 26 September 1982 – A Moroccan Dassault Mirage F1 was shot down by the Polisario Front. Pilot Ten Mohamed Hadri was captured.
  • 12 January 1985– A Moroccan Dassault Mirage F1 was shot down by the Polisario Front near Mansoura Ahmed.
  • 13 January 1985 – Two Moroccan Northrop F-5 were shot down by the Polisario Front near the Algerian border.
  • 21 January 1985 – A Moroccan North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco was shot down by the Polisario Front using a 9K32 Strela-2 near Dakhla, Western Sahara.
  • 21 August 1987 – A Moroccan Northrop F-5 was shot down by the Polisario Front.

    [Cabinda War] (1975–present)

  • May 18, 2005 – FLEC rebels shot down a military helicopter of the National Air Force of Angola.

    Mozambican Civil War (1977–1994)

  • November 1979 – A Rhodesian helicopter was shot down by Mozambican troops while returning from a trip to Gorongossa.
  • January 1987 – RENAMO claimed to have shot down an unknown Mozambican helicopter.

    Ogaden War (1977–1978)

  • July 1977 – An Ethiopian F-5E is shot down by a SA-7 Grail MANPADs near Gode.
  • July 1977 – An Ethiopian Douglas DC-3 cargo plane from Ethiopian Airlines is shot down.
  • July 1977 – An Ethiopian Douglas C-47 is shot down by a pair of Somali MiG-17s.
  • 24 July 1977 – A Somali MiG-21 is shot down by an Ethiopian F-5E.
  • 25 July 1977 – Two Somali MiG-21s are shot down by Ethiopian F-5Es, another two MiG-21s involved in collisions in the same engagement.
  • 26 July 1977 – A Somali MiG-21 is shot down by an Ethiopian F-5E.
  • 19 August 1977 – A Somali MiG-21 is shot down by an Ethiopian F-5E.
  • 21 August 1977 – A Somali MiG-21 is shot down by an Ethiopian F-5E.
  • 1 September 1977 – Two Somali MiG-21s were shot down by a pair of Ethiopian F-5Es.

    Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)

  • 23 February 2008 – a Turkish Army AH-1 Cobra helicopter crashed with PKK militants claiming the downing and posting a video. Turkey confirmed this later in the day, saying that the incident happened "due to an unknown reason".
  • 13 May 2016 – PKK militants shot down a Turkish Army AH-1W SuperCobra using a 9K38 Igla MANPADS. In the published video, the missile severed the tail section from the rest of the helicopter, causing it to spin, fragment in midair and crash, killing the two pilots on board. The Turkish government initially claimed that it fell due to technical failure, it later became obvious that it had been shot down.
  • 10 February 2018 – YPG militants shot down a Turkish Air Force TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK over Kırıkhan district of Hatay province killing two soldiers.

    [Chadian-Libyan conflict] (1978–1987)

  • 25 January 1984 – A French Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar is shot down by machine-gun fire from GUNT rebels, its pilot is killed.
  • 7 September 1987 – A Libyan Air Force Tupolev Tu-22 with an East German crew was shot down by a MIM-23 Hawk missile fired by the French army while trying to bomb N'Djamena airport.

    [Soviet–Afghan War] (1979–1989)

[Salvadoran Civil War] (1979–1992)

  • 26 January 1981 – An Aero Commander operated by Aerolineas del Pacifico that was air-dropping arms and ammunition for rebels was destroyed by the Salvadoran Air Force at a small airstrip killing the co-pilot. The pilot was captured by the army.
  • 11 May 1981 – A Bell UH-1 Iroquois was hit by machinegun fire and crashed.
  • late January 1982 – Battle of Ilopango Airport
  • 17 June 1982 – A MD Helicopters MD 500 was shot down by the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front.
  • 19 October 1984 – A Cessna O-2A was shot down by the FMLN.
  • 12 April 1986 – A Bell UH-1 Iroquois was shot down by the FMLN near San Miguel Air Base.
  • 18 November 1989 – A Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was shot down near San Miguel.
  • 17 October 1990 – Six Bell UH-1 Iroquois were destroyed in a FMLN attack.
  • 23 November 1990 – A Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was shot down using a surface to air missile.
  • 2 January 1991 – A Bell UH-1 Iroquois was shot down near Lolotique.
  • 19 December 1991 – A Bell UH-1 Iroquois was shot down by the FMLN.

    [Internal conflict in Peru] (1980-present)

  • 2 October 1999 - A Peruvian Army helicopter was shot down by Shining Path guerrillas near Satipo.
  • 2 September 2009 - Shining Path militants shot down a Peruvian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter, later killing the two pilots with small arms fire.
  • 9 May 2012 - A Police Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed after a Shining Path sniper killed its pilot, with 4 soldiers being wounded by the crash.

    [Iran–Iraq War] (1980–1988)

  • 20 February 1986 – An Iranian Air Force Fokker F27 Friendship is shot down by an Iraqi Air Force MiG-23 with a total of 49 killed including crew and passengers.
  • 17 January 1987 – An Iraqi MiG-23ML of unit 63FS shot down a F-14A piloted by Assl-e-Davtalab.
  • 19 July 1988 – Two Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1s of unit 115FS shot down two F-14A Tomcats with Super 530 missiles.

    Falklands War (1982)

  • Argentine air forces shot down in the Falklands War: a total of 45 aircraft including 4 helicopters, April 3 – June 14, 1982
  • On 4 May 1982, a Sea Harrier FRS.1 was hit by anti-aircraft fire at Goose Green.
  • On 21 May 1982, two Gazelle AH.1s was hit by small-arms fire at San Carlos.
  • On 21 May 1982, a Harrier GR.3 was hit by a Blowpipe missile at Port Howard.
  • On 27 May 1982, a Harrier GR.3 was hit by a anti-aircraft fire at Goose Green.
  • On 28 May 1982, a Scout AH.1 was shot down by an IA-58 Pucara at Goose Green.
  • On 30 May 1982, a Harrier GR.3 was hit by anti-aircraft fire at Stanley.
  • On 1 June 1982, a Sea Harrier FRS.1 hit by a Roland missile at Stanley.
  • 6 June 1982, British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident at Bluff Cove.

    Libyan Gulf of Sidra territorial water dispute

  • 19 August 1981 – Gulf of Sidra incident (1981): Two Su-22 Fitters of the Libyan Air Force attempted to intercept two American F-14 Tomcats over the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of Sirte. Both Su-22s were shot down.
  • 15 April 1986 – One F-111F of the 48th Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force was shot down over Libya under Muammar Gaddafi|Libya] by ground fire during the 1986 United States bombing of Libya.
  • 4 January 1989 – 1989 air battle near Tobruk

    Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009)

  • 13 September 1990 – A Sri Lanka Air Force SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 was shot down near Palaly killing the pilot.
  • 5 July 1992 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Shaanxi Y-8 was shot down with a surface to air missile near Palaly killing 19.
  • 14 July 1992 – A Sri Lanka Air Force SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 was shot down killing the pilot.
  • 2 August 1994 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 was shot down by small arms fire.
  • 28 April 1995 – two Sri Lanka Air Force Hawker Siddeley HS 748 were shot down near Palay by SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles, the shot downs cost the lives of 43 in the first shootdown and 52 in the second shootdown.
  • 14 July 1995 – A Sri Lanka Air Force FMA IA 58 Pucará was shot down by a MANPADS killing the pilot. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera was killed; his body was recovered by an Air force rescue team.
  • 18 November 1995 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Shaanxi Y-8 and a Mil Mi-24 were shot down near Palaly killing four in the Y-8.
  • 22 November 1995 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Antonov An-32 charted from Kazakhstan was shot down near Jaffna killing 63 troops.
  • 22 January 1996 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-17-1V was shot down by LTTE killing 34.
  • 19 March 1996 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down off the coast of Mullaitivu killing seven.
  • 20 July 1996 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mil Mi-8 was shot down.
  • 10 November 1997 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down killing two and a Mil Mi-17 crashed landed after being hit.
  • 7 January 1998 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mil Mi-17 was hit with an RPG and mortars and was destroyed.
  • 26 June 1998 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down south of Vavuniya killing four.
  • 17 December 1999 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down near Paranthan killing four.
  • 18 February 2000 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 412 was shot down over Thenmaradchi killing two.
  • 30 March 2000 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Antonov AN-26 was shot down near Anuradhapura by SAM killing 40.
  • 24 May 2000 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down near Kodikamam killing two.
  • 19 October 2000 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down near Nagar Kovil.
  • 23 October 2000 – A Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 was shot down near the Trincomalee harbour.
  • 22 October 2007 – Raid on [Anuradhapura Air Force Base]: One Bell 212 gunship of the Sri Lankan Air Force either suffered a mechanical failure or was shot down during the attack, killing all four of its crew members.
  • 20 February 2009 – 2009 suicide air raid on Colombo: Two Zlin Z-143 light aircraft laden with explosives and flown by two LTTE suicide pilots were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. One impacted a building and detonated; the other crashed before it could reach its target.

    [Lord's Resistance Army insurgency] (1987–present)

  • 25 December 2008 – LRA claimed the downing of an Ugandan military helicopter in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    [First [Nagorno-Karabakh War]] (1988–1994)

  • 20 November 1991 – 1991 Azerbaijani [Mil Mi-8 shootdown]
  • 28 January 1992 – 1992 Azerbaijani Mil [Mi-8 shootdown] – A civilian Azerbaijani helicopter of Azal airlines is shot down by MANPADs fire from Armenian forces.
  • 3 March 1992 – a Russian Federation Mi-26 cargo helicopter and a Mi-24 attack helicopter designed as an escort delivered food to an Armenian village in Polistan. On the way back evacuating civilians and wounded the cargo helicopter is attacked by an Azerbaijani Mi-8, the escort thwarted the attack back. However, MANPADS fire launched from the ground shot down the Mi-26 near the Azerbaijani village of Seidilyar. Of the 50 people on board, 12 were killed.
  • 12 May 1992 – A Russian Federation Mi-26 is shot down by Armenian MANPAD fire in Tavush province, Armenia. Six crewmen died.
  • 8 August 1992 – An Azerbaijani Mi-24 is shot down by Armenian ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, one Armenian 57 mm S-60 gun was destroyed in the same engagement.
  • 20 August 1992 – An Azerbaijani two seat MiG-25PD is shot down, one of the pilots was Alexander Belichenko a Ukrainian national, after being captured by Armenian authorities he is sentenced to death by the Constitutional Court of Armenia. However, diplomatic negotiations by the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan allowed the pardon of Belichenko and other mercenary pilots of Azerbaijan.
  • 4 September 1992 – An Azerbaijani MiG-21 is shot down by Armenian fire, the pilot is captured.
  • 12 September 1992 – An Armenian Mi-24 is shot down by Azerbaijani fire.
  • 18 September 1992 – An Azerbaijani Mi-24 is shot down by Armenian anti-aircraft gunners.
  • 10 October 1992 – An Azerbaijani Su-25 is shot down by Armenian fire in Malibeyli, the pilot could not managed to eject and perished.
  • 12 November 1992 – An Armenian Mi-24 is shot down by Azerbaijani fire.
  • 7 December 1992 – An Azerbaijani Mi-24 is shot down by Armenian fire the Martuni region.
  • 7 December 1992 – An Azerbaijani Su-25 is shot down by Armenian fire the Martuni region.
  • 13 June 1992 – An Azerbaijani Su-25 piloted by Vagif Gurbanov was shot down. Gurbanov was killed and awarded the title National Hero of Azerbaijan.
  • 15 January 1993 – An Azerbaijani MiG-21 was shot down by Armenian fire.
  • 1 September 1993 – An Azerbaijani Mi-24 was shot down by Armenian fire.
  • 18 January 1994 – An Armenian Su-25 is shot down by Azerbaijani fire.
  • 17 February 1994 – An Azerbaijan MiG-21 is shot down in Vedenis region of Armenia, the pilot is captured.
  • 17 March 1994 – Iranian Air Force C-130 shootdown|Iranian Air Force C-130 was shot down] by Armenian forces en route from Moscow to Iran.
  • 23 April 1994 – An Azerbaijani attack by 7 Su-25s in Stepanakert ends with one Su-25 shot down by air defense. The Azerbaijani side acknowledged the loss but described it as an accident.

    Later Nagorno-Karabakh conflict">Nagorno-Karabakh conflict">Later Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1994–2024)

  • 12 September 2011 – A UAV was reportedly shot down by the ARDA over the airspace of the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh. Preliminary investigations carried out by the ARDA have determined the model to be a Hermes 450 drone.
  • 12 November 2014 – An Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown|Armenian Mil Mi-24] is shot down by Azerbaijani forces, killing the crew of three.
  • 2 April 2016 – During a clash between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, an Azerbaijani Mil Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by Artsakh Republic forces. The downing was confirmed by the Azerbaijani defense ministry.
  • 21 April 2020 – An Azerbaijani Orbiter-3 UAV was shot down by an Armenian 9K33 Osa missile system over the Artsakh.
  • 27 September 2020 – The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan confirmed the loss of one helicopter but said that the crew survived the crash. On late December 2020 Armenian social media published footage of an Azerbaijani Mi-17 helicopter crashing in Nagorno Karabakh. Lt. Coronel Ramiz Gasimov, the pilot, is seen ejecting the helicopter; however, he died by wounds after being in coma on 22 October 2020. During the war Azerbaijan officially recognized losing two helicopters.
  • 28 September 2020 – An Azerbaijani Antonov An-2 was shot down by Armenian anti-aircraft artillery near the town of Martuni, Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • 29 September 2020 – Armenian Defense Ministry claimed that an Armenian Air Force Su-25 was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 killing the pilot. However, Turkey denied the event.
  • 4 October 2020, An Azerbaijani Air force Su-25 attack aircraft is shot down by Armenian forces while targeting Armenian positions in Fuzuli. The pilot, Col. Zaur Nudiraliyev died in the crash. Azerbaijani officials acknowledged the loss in December 2020.
  • 19 October 2020, A Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 operated by Azerbaijan is reported shot down by air defense weapons of Armenian Army over the skies of Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • 8 November 2020, another Azerbaijani Bayraktar TB2 was shot down by air defense weapons on southeastern Nagorno Karabakh.
  • 9 November 2020 – A Russian Mi-24 combat helicopter was shot down by Azerbaijani forces near the border with Armenia. Two crewmembers died and a third was wounded. The government of Azerbaijan stated the shootdown was an accident and offered an apology.

    Gulf War (1990–1991)

Iraqi no-fly zones (1991–2003)

  • 20 March 1991 – USAF F-15C vs. IQAF Su-22 – In accordance with the ceasefire, an F-15C shot down an Iraqi Su-22 fighter-bomber with an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile.
  • 27 December 1992 – USAF F-16D vs. IQAF MiG-25 – A MiG-25 was shot down by an F-16D using an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile after crossing the no-fly zone. It is the first kill with an AIM-120, and also the first USAF F-16 kill.
  • 17 January 1993 – USAF F-16C vs. IQAF MiG-23 – A USAF F-16C shot down an IQAF MiG-23. It was the second kill made with an AIM-120 AMRAAM.
  • 14 April 1994 – UH-60 Black Hawk friendly fire shootdown incident
  • 23 December 2002 – USAF RQ-1 Predator vs. IQAF MiG-25 – In what was the last aerial victory for the Iraqi Air Force before Operation Iraqi Freedom, an Iraqi MiG-25 shot down an American RQ-1 Predator UAV after the drone opened fire on the Iraqi aircraft with a Stinger missile.

    Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995)

  • Battle of Šibenik: on 19 September 1991 a Yugoslavian J-21 Jastreb ground-attack aircraft was shot down by a Croatian 9K32 Strela-2 missile over Šibenik. The aircraft fell to the sea and the action was recorded by what became an iconic video of the Croatian War of Independence.
  • Battle of the Dalmatian Channels: on 15 November 1991, Croatian forces claim that their anti-aircraft artillery shot down two Yugoslavian J-21 Jastreb ground-attack aircraft.
  • 1992 [European Community Monitor Mission helicopter downing] : A Yugoslav MiG-21 shot down an Italian Army Agusta-Bell AB-206L helicopter on an EU mission at Podrute, south west of Varaždin, Croatia.
  • 14 September 1993: A Croatian MiG 21 was hit by a SA-6 missile over Gvozd after a successful strike on Serb positions at Vranovina, south of Topusko: the pilot, Miroslav Peris, was killed in action when his aircraft exploded in flames near Stipan.
  • 2 May 1995: a Croatian MiG 21 piloted by Rudolf Perešin was shot down while on air-to-ground support mission near Stara Gradiška by Serb anti-aircraft fire, in the course of Operation Flash. Perešin was killed in action.

    First Abkhazia War (1992–93)">War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)">First Abkhazia War (1992–93)

  • – 5 September 1992: A Georgian Army helicopter is shot down by 14.5 mm heavy machine-gun fire from Abkhazian fighters.
  • – 14 December 1992: Georgian forces shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter using SA-14 MANPADs, killing 3 crew members and 56 passengers, mostly Russian refugees.
  • – December 1992: Russian and Abkhazian force shot down a Georgian Mi-8 with a SA-7 or SA-14 missile.
  • – 15 January 1993: Georgian forces shot down a Russian Su-25 ground attack fighter near Tkvarcheli.
  • – 15 January 1993: A Georgian Mi-8 helicopter is shot down in the area as well.
  • – 19 March 1993: A Russian Air Force Su-27S flew to intercept two Georgian Su-25s approaching the Sokhumi area, the Russian Su-27 was destroyed by a SA-2 missile. The Pilot, Maj. Schipko was killed.
  • – 3 July 1993: Georgian forces shot down a Russia Su-25 over Sokhumi.
  • – 4 July 1993: Georgian forces shot down two Russian aircraft, one Yak-52 reconnaissance aircraft and a Mi-8T during the Siege of Tkvarcheli.
  • – 4 July 1993: Russian and Abkhazian forces shot down a Georgian Su-25 with a SA-14 missile over Nizhnaya Eshera.
  • – 5 July 1993: Georgian forces reported the loss of a Su-25 to friendly fire.
  • – 7 July 1993: Abkhazians shot down a Georgian Mi-8 while evacuating refugees from Sokhumi, killing 20 persons.
  • – 30 September 1993: Abkhazians shot down another Georgian Mi-8 near Racaka.
  • – 4 October 1993: Abkhazians shot down another Georgian Mi-8 transporting 60 refugees en route from Abkhazia to Svaneti.
  • – December 1993: Abkhazians shot down a Georgian helicopter, likely a Mi-24 before OSCE Ceasefire.

    Bosnian War (1992–1995)

  • 3 September 1992 – An Italian Air Force G.222 transport aircraft was shot down when approaching Sarajevo airfield, while conducting a United Nations relief mission. It crashed from the airfield; a NATO rescue mission was aborted when 2 USMC CH-53 helicopters came under small arms fire. The cause of the crash was determined to be a surface-to-air missile, but it was not clear who fired it. Everyone on board – four Italian crew members and four French passengers – died in the crash.
  • 28 February 1994 – Banja Luka incident: four USAF F-16s shot down four Serb J-21 Jastrebs after the latter bombed a Bosnian ammunition factory in Novi Travnik, in violation of the no-fly zone established by NATO.
  • 16 April 1994 – A Sea Harrier of the 801 Naval Air Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, was brought down by an Igla-1 surface-to-air missile fired by the Army of Republika Srpska while attempting to bomb two Bosnian Serb tanks over Gorazde. The pilot, Lieutenant Nick Richardson, ejected and landed in territory controlled by friendly Bosnian Muslims.
  • 2 June 1995: A USAF F-16 piloted by Captain Scott O’Grady was shot down by a Serb SA-6 missile. The pilot was rescued by Marines seven days after shoot-down.
  • 30 August 1995 – one French Air Force Mirage 2000N-K2 was shot down over Bosnia by a 9K38 Igla MANPADS, fired by air defence units of Army of Republika Srpska during operation Deliberate Force. Both pilots were captured by Serbian forces.

    United Nations Operation in Somalia (1992–1995)

  • 3 October 1993 – Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

    Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (November 1992)

  • 27 November 1992 – Three OV-10 Bronco aircraft flown by rebel pilots were shot down over Caracas, at least one by a loyalist F-16.

    Aegean dispute

  • On 18 June 1992, a Greek Mirage F1CG crashed near the island of Agios Efstratios in the Northern Aegean, during a low-altitude dogfight with two Turkish F-16s. Greek pilot Nikolaos Sialmas was killed in the crash.
  • Οn 8 February 1995, a Turkish F-16C crashed on the sea after being intercepted by a Greek Mirage F1CG. The Turkish pilot Mustafa Yildirim bailed out and was rescued by a Greek helicopter. After brief hospitalization in Rhodes, the pilot was handed over to the Turkish side.
  • On 27 December 1995, a pair of Greek F-16Cs intercept a pair of Turkish F-4E. During the dogfight that followed, one of the Turkish aircraft went into a steep dive and crashed into the sea, killing its pilot Altug Karaburun. The co-pilot Ogur Kilar managed to bail out safely and was rescued by a Greek ΑΒ-205 helicopter. He was returned to Turkey after receiving first aid treatment in Lesbos.
  • On 8 October 1996 – 7 months after the escalation of the dispute with Turkey over the Imia/Kardak islands, a Greek Mirage 2000 fired an R.550 Magic II missile and shot down a Turkish F-16D over the Aegean Sea. The Turkish pilot died, while the co-pilot ejected and was rescued by Greek forces. In August 2012, after the downing of a RF-4E on the Syrian Coast, Turkish Defence Minister İsmet Yılmaz confirmed that the Turkish F-16D was shot down by a Greek Mirage 2000 with an R.550 Magic II in 1996 flying in the disputed airspace near Chios island. Greece denies that the F-16 was shot down. Athens says that Turkish pilot reported a control failure. It also claims that the jet was in disputed airspace because one of the Turkish pilots was rescued in the Greek flight information region. Both Mirage 2000 pilots reported that the F-16 caught fire and they saw one parachute.
  • / On 23 May 2006, a Greek F-16 and a Turkish F-16 collided approximately 35 nautical miles south off the island of Rhodes, near the island of Karpathos during a Turkish reconnaissance flight involving two F-16Cs and a RF-4. Greek pilot Kostas Iliakis was killed, whereas the Turkish pilot Halil İbrahim Özdemir bailed out and was rescued by a cargo ship.
  • In April 2018, Greek Air Force jet crashed into the Aegean Sea on Thursday, killing the pilot, as he returned from a mission to intercept Turkish aircraft that had violated the country's airspace, Greek officials said. Greek officials said nothing about what might have caused the crash, or whether it was connected to a confrontation with Turkish jets, though they stressed that the crash occurred several kilometers from the site of the interception mission.

    Insurgency in Ogaden (1994–2018)

  • 18 July 2006 – An Ethiopian airforce Mil Mi-8 was shot down by the Ogaden National Liberation Front near Gabo Gabo killing 26.

    Cenepa War (1995)

  • 29 January 1995 – A Peruvian Mil Mi-8 was shot down by Ecuadorian forces using a Blowpipe missile between Base Sur and Coangos, killing five.
  • 7 February 1995 – A Peruvian Mil Mi-24 was shot down by Ecuadorian forces using a 9K38 Igla missiles at Base Sur, killing three.
  • 11 February 1995 – Two Peruvian Sukhoi Su-22s and a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly were shot down by Ecuadorian Dassault Mirage F1s and IAI Kfir.
  • 17 February 1995 – A Peruvian Mil Mi-8 was hit by AAA fire and crash landed.

    Eritrean–Ethiopian War (1998–2000)

  • 2 June 1998 – An Ethiopian MiG-23BN was shot down by Eritrean anti-aircraft fire while doing a bombing run on Asmara International Airport.
  • 6 June 1998 – An Ethiopian MiG-21 was shot down by Eritrean anti-aircraft fire.
  • 6 June 1998 – An Etrirean Aermacchi MB-339 was shot down by Ethriopia north of Mekelle.
  • 14 February 1999 – An Ethiopian Mi-24 Attack helicopter ethier crashed or was shot down near Burre.
  • 25 February 1999 – An Eritrean Mig-29 was shot down by a R-73 Air to air missile fired from a Su-27, the Mig-29 crashed near Badme.
  • 26 February 1999 – An Eritrean Mig-29 was shot down near Badme by an Ethiopian Su-27 piloted by Aster Tolossa.
  • On 26 February 1999, Two Ethiopian MiG-21s were shot down by Eritrean MIG-29s.
  • 15 May 2000 – An Ethiopian Mi-35 was shot down attacking a water tank near Barentu by Eritrean ZSU-23 fire.
  • 16 May 2000 – An Eritrean MiG-29 was shot down my Ethiopian Su-27s.
  • 16 May 2000 – An Eritrean MiG-29 was damaged by an Ethiopian Su-27s and later crash landed at Asmara.

    NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (1999)

  • 24 March 1999 – two Yugoslav Air Force MiG-29 were shot down by two USAF F-15C with AMRAAM missiles.
  • 24 March 1999 – During Operation Allied Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM J-063 flown by Major Peter Tankink shot down one Yugoslavian MiG-29, flown by Lt. Colonel Milutinović, with an AMRAAM missile. The pilot of the stricken jet ejected safely. This marked the first air-to-air kill made by a Dutch fighter since WW2.
  • 26 March 1999 – two Yugoslavian MiG-29 were shot down by two USAF F-15C with AMRAAM missiles.
  • 27 March 1999 – 1999 F-117A shoot-down – An American F-117A Nighthawk stealth bomber was shot down over Belgrade by a Soviet made S-125E. The pilot ejected safely and the plane's wreckage was recovered by Serbian special forces. It was the only stealth aircraft shot down by a surface to air missile.
  • 2 May 1999 – a USAF F-16CG was shot down over Serbia. It was downed by an S-125 Neva SAM near Nakucani. Its pilot; Lt. Col David Goldfein, 555th Fighter Squadron commander, managed to eject and was later rescued by a combat search-and-rescue mission. The remains of this aircraft are on display in the Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum, Belgrade International Airport.
  • 4 May 1999 – A lone Yugoslav MiG-29 flown by Lt. Col. Milenko Pavlović attempted to intercept a large NATO formation that was returning to base, having just bombed Valjevo. It was engaged by a pair of USAF F-16CJs from the 78th Fighter Squadron and shot down with an AIM-120 AMRAAM, killing the pilot. The falling wreckage was also hit by a Strela-2M mistakenly fired by the Yugoslavian army.

    India–Pakistan military confrontation (1992, 1996, 1999, 2019 and 2025)

  • 1 August 1992- Two Pakistani Lama helicopters were detected by Indian forces which fired IGLA missiles upon them. One of the helicopters carrying commander of 323rd Brigade, Brigadier Masood Anwari got struck by a missile, killing him and two others.
  • 26 August 1996 – During the Siachen conflict over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir, an Indian Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by Pakistani forces with a surface to air missile. Four crew members died in the crash.
  • 2 July 1997 – During the Siachen conflict over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir, an Indian HAL Cheetah helicopter was shot down by Pakistani forces. Both pilots died in the crash.
  • 27 May 1999 – During the Kargil War in the Kashmir region, one Indian Air Force MiG-27 was lost to an engine problem. Its wingman, flying in a MiG-21 was shot down by a MANPADS while trying to locate the downed MiG-27 pilot.
  • 28 May 1999 – An Indian Air Force strike formation composed by four Mi-17 helicopters came under fire by MANPADS, one was hit and shot down, killing all four on board.
  • 10 August 1999 – Pakistan Naval Air Arm Atlantique shootdown. The Atlantique plane was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 of the 45th Indian Air Force Squadron using a R-60 infrared homing missile.
  • 27 February 2019 – India confirmed that it lost one MiG-21 from the 51st fighter squadron in Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes|an air skirmish] with the Pakistan Air Force.
  • 27 February 2019 – An Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17V-5 was shot down by friendly fire in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir. Six military personnel and one civilian were killed.

    Second Chechen War (1999–2009)

  • Khankala Mi-26 shootdown

    War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Iraq War (2003–2011)

Kivu conflict (2004–present)

  • 27 January 2017 – Two helicopters operated by mercenaries were shot down by M23 rebels near the town of Rutshuru.
  • United Nations 28 March 2022 – A United Nations peacekeeping helicopter carrying eight was shot down by M23 Rebels.
  • 17 June 2022 – A Congolese helicopter gunship was shot down by M23 Rebels in North Kivu.

    [Chadian Civil War (2005–2010)]

  • 28 November 2006 – Chadian Air Force plane was shot down by UFDD rebels near the town of Abeche. Rebels also claimed to have shot down a helicopter which was not confirmed by the government.

    [2006 Lebanon War]

  • 12 August 2006 – Hezbollah fighters shot down an Israeli CH-53 Yas'ur with an anti-tank missile, killing five air crew members.

    [Mexican drug war] (2006–present)

  • 1 May 2015 – A Mexican airforce Eurocopter EC725 was shot down by Jalisco New Generation Cartel using RPG-7s. The helicopter crashed, killed eight on board.

    [Russo-Georgian War] (2008)

  • 20 April 2008 – Georgian officials claimed a Russian MiG-29 shot down a Georgian Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle and provided video footage from the ill-fated drone showing an apparent MiG-29 launching an air-to-air missile at it. Russia denies that the aircraft was theirs and says they did not have any pilots in the air that day. Abkhazia's administration claimed its own forces shot down the drone with an L-39 Albatros|L-39] aircraft "because it was violating Abkhaz airspace and breaching ceasefire agreements". UN investigation concluded that the video was authentic and that the drone was shot down by a Russian MiG-29 or Su-27 using a R-73 heat seeking missile.
  • 8 August 2008 – The first Russian Air Force loss of the campaign was a Su-25, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Terebunsky of the 368th Attack Aviation Regiment. It was shot down over South Ossetia near the Zarsk pass, between Dzhava and Tskhinvali. It was hit by friendly fire, a MANPADS missile fired by South Ossetian militia at around 18:00. Earlier in the day, a flight of four Georgian Air Force Su-25 planes had attacked a Russian army convoy in the same area. This was one of the few missions conducted by Georgia's Su-25s during the brief conflict Georgia believed its aircraft would soon become easy targets for Russian interceptors. The Georgian aircraft returned to their bases and were hidden under camouflage netting to prevent them from being located.
  • 9 August 2008 – a Russian Tu-22M3 was shot down in South Ossettia by a Georgian Buk-M1 surface-to-air-missile system during the Russo-Georgian War. Three of the four crew members were killed, while the co-pilot was taken POW by Georgian forces.
  • 9 August 2008 – A Russian Su-24 was shot down by Georgian air defense forces with an anti-aircraft missile south of Tskhinvali during the morning. Both pilots ejected, but the co-pilot died impacting the ground when his parachute was damaged by fire. The wounded pilot was captured by Georgian forces. This loss was not initially acknowledged by Russia, while verified later by independent sources. The captured pilot, Major Igor Zinov, was shown on Georgian TV while being hospitalized together with the co-pilot of the downed Tu-22MR.
  • 9 August 2008 – A Russian Su-25 piloted by Colonel Sergey Kobylash, commander of the 368th Attack Aviation Regiment, was hit by a Georgian MANPADS during a daylight strafing run on a Georgian military formation south of Tskhinvali, on the Gori-Tskhinvali road at 10:30: after making his initial approach, Kolybash's aircraft was struck by a missile that hit his left engine, destroying it. Not long after, as Kobylash was returning to base at an altitude of 1000 meters, a second MANPADS missile struck his right engine, leaving the plane without thrust. Kobylash was able to glide to Russian controlled territory before ejecting north of Tskhinvali in a South Ossetian village of the Georgian enclave in the Great Liakh gorge, where he was recovered by a Russian combat search-and-rescue team. Shortly after Kobylash was rescued, South Ossetian militants claimed they had downed a Georgian Su-25; however, Georgian Air Force did not operate since the day before, likely making the second fatal hit on this Su-25 another friendly fire incident.
  • 9 August 2008 – A Su-24 was shot down in a friendly fire incident by a Russian SAM, while it was escorting a Russian column on the Tskhinvali-Gori highway. The crew ejected and was recovered by a search-and-rescue helicopter.

    [Boko Haram insurgency] (2009–present)

  • 11 September 2014 – One Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet either crashed or was shot down while on operations against Boko Haram near the town of Yola. The two pilots were captured and later beheaded.
  • 31 March 2021 – One Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet 475 serial number 475 crashed. Boko Haram released footage purportedly showing themselves downing the plane.

    [Syrian civil war] (2011–present)

[First Libyan Civil War] (2011)

[Nigerian bandit conflict] (2011–present)

[War in Donbas] (2014–present)

Saudi-led intervention in Yemen">Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war">Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)

[Insurgency in Northern Chad] (2016–present)

  • 29 April 2021 – Rebels from the FACT claimed to have destroyed a helicopter near Nokou in Kanem. A military spokesman stated that the helicopter, claimed to have been shot down by rebels, crashed due to "technical failures" far from the battlefield.

    [Insurgency in Cabo Delgado] (2017–present)

  • 8 April 2020 – Mozambique Air Force Gazelle helicopter was damaged by small arms fire by ISIS and reportedly crashed down. ISIS released footage of the downed helicopter.
  • 23 June 2021 – Mozambique Air Force Mil Mi-17 crashed after being hit by small arms fire near Afungi camp.

    Persian Gulf crisis (2019–present)

  • 20 June 2019 – 2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone: The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down an American RQ-4A Global Hawk over the Strait of Hormuz. The United States responded with cyberattacks against Iranian air defense infrastructure.

    [Tigray War] (2020–2022)

  • 29 November 2020 – An Ethiopian Air Force MiG-23 crashed during the Tigray conflict near Abiy Addi, 50 kilometers west of Mekelle. The pilot ejected and was captured by the Tigray People's Liberation Front who claimed they shot it down, showing the pilot with his Zsh-7 flying helmet, a flight suit, a MiG-23 English manual and the crash site with charred metal parts.
  • 6 December 2020 – An Ethiopian Air Force MiG-23 crashed 425 meters from Shire Inda Selassie airport.
  • 20 April 2021 – An Ethiopian Mi-35 was lost near Guya killing three. The TDF claims to have shot it down and released a video of the crashed helicopter.
  • 23 June 2021 – An Ethiopian Air Force Lockheed L-100 Hercules, serial number 5022 carrying explosives, military officers, and Eritrean camouflage uniforms was shot down near Gijet.
  • 11 November 2021 – An Ethiopian Mi-35 helicopter was shot down by the TDF in the district of Mille.
  • 24 August 2022 – The Ethiopian Air Force shot down a plane carrying weapons that suspected to transport arms to the Tigray People's Liberation Front in the Ethiopia–Sudan border. Sudanese officials denied the involvement in the incident.

    [Republican insurgency in Afghanistan] (2021–present)

  • 16 June 2022 – A Taliban airforce Mil Mi-17 was shot down by the NRF in the Arezoo valley, two crew were killed and four captured.

    Russian Invasion of Ukraine">Russian invasion of Ukraine">Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)

[2023 Chinese balloon incident]

On February 4, 2023, at 2:39 p.m. EST an F-22 Raptor, with Pilot Frank 01, fired an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile at a military spy balloon belonging to China that had traversed North America over the previous several days. The balloon was brought down six nautical miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
US officials called the craft an "intelligence gathering" balloon, while Chinese authorities claimed it was a weather research device..

[Gaza war]

In Gaza:
  • On 7 October 2023, an Israeli CH-53D Yas'ur helicopter was destroyed by Hamas militants hours after the attack at Be'eri kibutz.
  • On 27 October 2023, an Israeli Skylark II drone was shot down above the Gaza Strip.
  • On 30 November 2023, an Israeli Skylark II drone was shot down on central Gaza.
In Lebanon:
  • On 5 November 2023 during the Lebanon Israeli clashes, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone that was flying over Nabatieh south of Lebanon. Wreckage of the drone fell over houses in the towns of Zabdin and Harouf.
  • On 18 November 2023 an Israeli drone was shot down by Hezbollah on the Lebanon-Israel border near al-Jalil Panhandle.
  • On 26 February 2024, Hezbollah shot down a Hermes 450 drone with a surface to air missile.
  • On 6 April 2024, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone.
  • On 22 April 2024, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone in the town of Asichiyeh near the border. Israeli and Hezbollah sources reported.
  • On 1 June 2024, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli drone in Lebanon, Israeli officials and Hezbollah reported. According to Hezbollah the drone shotdown was a Hermes 900 Kochav.
  • On 22 October 2024, Hezbollah shot down another Israeli Hermes 450 drone in Tayr Harfa. Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the loss to The Times of Israel.
  • On 29 October 2024, Hezbollah shot down another Israeli Hermes 900 Kochav drone in Marjayoun.

    Civilian aircraft

– dealing with civilian airliners
  • 1996 shootdown of [Brothers to the Rescue aircraft] – Two civilian Cessna Skymasters operated by the activist group Brothers to the Rescue were engaged by the Cuban air force and shot down north of Havana.

    [Indonesian National Revolution] (1945–1949)

  • 1947 Yogyakarta Dakota incident – An Indian Douglas C-47 Dakota chartered by the Indonesian government to carry medical supplies was shot down by two Curtiss P-40 Warhawk operated by Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force.

    [Colombian conflict] (1964–present)

  • Avianca Flight 203 - A Colombian domestic passenger flight from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Colombia was destroyed by a bomb over the municipality of Soacha on November 27, 1989. All 107 people on board as well as three people on the ground were killed. The bombing had been ordered by the Medellín drug cartel.
  • 12 February 2003 - FARC rebels kidnapped three American contractors, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, after their counternarcotics plane was shotdown by the rebels in the Colombian jungle. Two other individuals on the plane, American Thomas Janis and Colombian Sergeant Luis Alcides Cruz, were murdered by FARC members at the crash site. The three Americans were held for over five years before being rescued in 2008.
  • May 20 2011 - FARC attack in Cauca on a helicopter transporting money leaves one policeman and three civilians wounded.
  • 13 May 2015 – A Hawker 800 carrying 1.2 metric tons of cocaine was intercepted by first the Venezuelan and then the Colombian air force. Venezuelan officials claimed to have shot down the jet, while Colombian officials claimed that it suffered an engine failure and crashed. The body of the aircraft's pilot was later recovered by the Colombian coast guard.
  • 14 March 2016 – A police helicopter was shot down by ELN, killing all four police officers on board.

    War on Drugs on Peru

  • 2001 Peru Cessna 185 shootdown – A Cessna 185 floatplane flown by a Christian missionary was shot down by a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly operated by the Peruvian Air Force after it was mistaken for a drug smuggling plane during patrols conducted under the Air Bridge Denial Program, in cooperation with the CIA.

    Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009)

  • Lionair Flight 602

    Somali Civil War (1991–present)

  • 4 May 2020 – An Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia was shot down in a friendly fire incident by Ethiopian force; the aircraft crashed, killing six on board.

    Rio de Janeiro drug war">Militias–Comando Vermelho conflict">Rio de Janeiro drug war (1992–present)

  • 17 October 2009 – A police helicopter of the Rio De Janeiro police force was shot down by gang members of Comando Vermelho during a shootout with police and exploded on a football field, killing two police officers; another died later. The event was captured on video by a television cameraman who was embedded with the police on the ground.
  • 19 November 2016 – In a similar incident, another Rio de Janeiro police helicopter was shot down by small-arms fire during a clash with gang members of Comando Vermelho and crashed in a ditch. All four police officers on board were killed.

    Mexican drug war (2006-present)

  • September 6 2016 – a Mexican cartel gang shoots down a helicopter in the western state of Michaocán. The helicopter was shot down in the region of Apatzingán, a city located in Tierra Caliente, a region that has been beset by drug violence and vigilante justice for years.

    Nigerian bandit conflict (2011-present)

  • 13 August 2023 - Bandits ambushed Nigerian security forces, killing 23 soldiers and three civilian vigilantes. A helicopter rescuing people from the scene also crashed due to gunfire from bandits.

    Ukraine-Russia War (2014–present)

  • Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
  • Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243

    [Haitian conflict (2020–present)]

  • 12 May 2025 - A helicopter was targeted by gang members in the Carrefour Vincent area, where bandits opened fire on the aircraft as it flew overhead. Several bullets hit the helicopter, forcing it to crash a short distance away in the Bourdon neighborhood, there were no casualties.
  • 14 November 2025 – A police helicopter was destroyed following an operation in Croix-des-Bouquets that left seven gang members dead.