Ethiopian Air Force pilots defected to Eritrea with Mi-35 Helicopter
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| Ethiopian Mi-35 Helicopter |
Ethiopian Air Force pilots defected to Eritrea with Mi-35 Helicopter
The Ethiopian Defense Ministry confirmed its air force pilots defected to Eritrea, bringing with them their Mi-35 attack helicopter.
In its own spin on the incident, the defense ministry alleges the Mi-35 helicopter was hijacked while on a training mission by a disgruntled pilot, forcing the flight technicians and co-pilots to fly to Eritrea.
The two deserting pilots and technician, who have been identified as Cap. Samael Giday, Lut. Bilelegn Desalalegn and Tec. Tsega-berhan Gidaywho, escaped to Eritrea Friday morning, according to the Ethiopian Satellite Television news network.
On average, the Mi-35 helicopter costs between 20-35 million dollars each, making this incident among the most expensive military aircraft defections of late.
Air force defections from Ethiopia to Eritrea are growing increasingly common. In 2014, at least eleven Ethiopian air force pilots defected to Eritrea, bringing along with them various multimillion dollar military aircrafts.
Ethiopian Air Force pilots defected to Eritrea with Mi-35 Helicopter
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