Mi-35 Downed Sunday

A Russian built Mi-35 helicopter has gone down in Venezuela, killing 18 crew and passengers on board. Ostensibly involved in border patrol, the Mi-35 was carrying soldiers to patrol the 1400 mile border with Colombia and stopped communicating for no published reason about mid-day, near the town of El Alto de Rubio.

No cause for the accident was given but current reports indicate that the accident does not appear to have been intentionally caused. However; if the report about the type of helicopter and the number of people on board is correct, the helicopter may have been significantly overloaded.

Instead of the usual ravings during one of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez's weekly TV speeches, the country's president gave a somber announcement about the accident which took the life of General Domingo Faneite. "I pay tribute to these soldiers of the homeland, especially general Faneite, who was my cadet," stated Chavez, a former Lieutenant Colonel.

The Mi-35 is the export version of Russian attack helicopter known as the Mi-24 HIND. To the best of our knowledge, there are at least ten Mi-35M-2s in the Venezuelan inventory, the first four were delivered in July 2006, with four more in December 2006. The Mil Mi-35M-2 Caribe is powered by two Isotov TV3-117VMA turboshaft engines, producing 2200 SHP a piece. Some 600 Mi-35 helicopters have been built for export.

FMI: http://www.aviacion.mil.ve/