List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Syrian Civil War

Updated on Nov 07, 2023

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According to Strategy Page, by mid 2013, nearly a hundred fixed wing and over a hundred helicopters were lost. Some 400 aircrew was killed, captured, or missing. In September 2014, the Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) claimed that since the conflict began the Syrian military lost 37 helicopters and 24 jets. Of these, 40 aircraft were shot down and the other 21 were destroyed in opposition attacks on military airports. Public observation via Google Earth of Syrian airfields shows a decreasing number of air-frames parked in the open in contrast to the increasing number of recorded air sorties. The hubs of Syrian Air Force basing activity during the Syrian Civil War have been the airfields at Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia and Hama, however it is not possible to independently verify these information.

However most of the virtual losses can actually be attributed to paper write offs: usually when an armed confrontation starts, the paper numbers about the National Armed Forces circulating before the War did account for several vehicles which were actually abandoned or not serviced or in a generic poor maintenance status. In the Syrian example, MiG-23MS, older MiG-21 versions, Su-20 (which is an older variant of the active Su-22), nearly all the MiG-25 and several other air-frames were already in disrepair before the war started. Also the motivated personnel who will join the fight when the Nation slides into a war is usually much smaller than the initial paper number. This is even more relevant when talking about armed forces based on conscription engaged in a civil war. This explains the sharp drop in vehicles and soldiers, way beyond the actual number of combat losses in most occasions. The same could be observed for the Iraqi Armed forced during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Libyan Armed Forces during the Libyan Civil War (2011) and the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the War in Donbass. Thanks to external support by Iran and Russia, the combat readiness of the Syrian Arab Air Force actually increased over the years of the Civil War, with the resources being rationalized towards useful assets and wider availability of service and parts for the remaining air-frames. As usual during an armed confrontation, it is impossible to determine the cause of each single crash, since nearly always the opposing party claims the aircraft was shot down by their forces while the side flying the aircraft blames it to accidental causes. On instances, even the presence of a video does not clarify what happened since a flash may be due to an antiaircraft shell or an engine explosion.

The list below does not include drones, unless selected specific entries.

2012

On 22 June 2012 a Turkish RF-4E Phantom reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by the Syrian Arab Air Defense over the sea near the Turkish-Syrian border while on mission. Both pilots were killed.

The first loss of a Syrian Arab Air Force fixed-wing aircraft was recorded on 13 August 2012 when a MiG-23 was filmed catching fire in flight, while automatic gunfire was heard on the background while the fighter aircraft was flying at low altitude in a level flight. The pilot ejected, and was captured and interrogated by the rebels on video.

The first video recorded combat loss of a helicopter came on 27 August 2012: a video recorded a burning Mi-8 or Mi-17 helicopter spiraling to the ground over Damascus, possibly hit by a ZU-23-2 antiaircraft gun.

The first loss of a MiG-21 was recorded on 30 August 2012. Its registration was 2271. It was likely downed on take off or landing at Abu Dhuhur air base, under siege by rebels, by heavy machine gun fire.

A few days later a second MiG-21, registered 2280, was shot down and recorded on video on 4 September 2012. It was likely downed on take off or landing at Abu Dhuhur air base, under siege by rebels, by KPV 14.5 mm machine gun fire.

The first recorded loss of an L-39ZA Albatros, possibly by 23 milimeter anti-aircraft fire, occurred on 13 October 2012 near Khan al-Asal with the crew, Lt. Col. Haitham Ismail Zhuneida and Lt. Mohammed Salman Mohammed, being killed as they ejected at low altitude.

On 15 October, another L-39 Albatros was downed near al-Taana in the east of Aleppo by rebel ground fire. Both pilots, Cap. Roni Ibrahim and Maj. Moti Shaaban Abbas, ejected and were captured. An Al Jazeera reporter, which reported the aircraft as a "MiG", managed to interview Ibrahim, while Abbas is said to have died in captivity. Ibrahim showed signs of having brawled with his captors and denied previous knowledge of Syrian civilians being targeted by airstrikes.

On 17 October 2012, a Mi-8 helicopter was shot down over Damascus, dramatically exploding in midair. It was likely hit by heavy machine gun fire with some of its improvised aerial barrel bombs exploding.

on 5 November 2012, a SyAAF Mi-17 carries the serial 2968 was shot down by Al-Farouq Battalions AA fire and crashed inside Tadmor AB. The fate of the crew is unknown, although some unconfirmed reports stated that 11 units were killed in this incident.

On 28 November 2012, a video showing the crash site of a large jet fighter was posted with rebels claiming they shot it down with an 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS. The heavily burned out aircraft wreck has been identified as a Su-24MK2, being the first downed Syrian Air Force Su-24.

2013

On 11 Jan. 2013, the Free Syrian Army units invaded Taftanaz AB The footage of various videos shows that there were not less than 15 helicopters stationed at the air field. Unfortunately, the available close photos shows half the number only. At least 5 helicopters were completely destroyed, including an Mi-25.

On 3 February 2013 SyAAF Mil Mi-8 downed in Mansoura area near Al Tabaqa town in Raqqa province.

On 14 February 2013, the first confirmed loss of a Sukhoi Su-22 was recorded, when rebel forces shot it down using a MANPADS launcher.

One Mil Mi-17 helicopter was lost in an air-to-air accident when it hit the tail of a Syrian passenger plane on 28 February 2013, with the airliner landing safely at Damascus airport.

On 25 June 2013, SyAAF Su-22M-3 Shot Down by Tabqa AFB.

On 31 July 2013, a video surfaced showing the successful missile launch for a rebel operated 9K33 Osa system with a possible hit on a Syrian helicopter Mil Mi-17.

On 16 September 2013, another Mil Mi-17 helicopter was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 in Latakia province near Turkish boder. At least part of the crew bailed out of the stricken helicopter while it was spiraling to the ground. They were believed to have been captured and beheaded by Al Qaeda-linked insurgents.

2014

On 16 January 2014, the insurgents claim shot down a helicopter with a surface-to-air missile was recorded with a video showing a 9K33 Osa SAM system downing a Syrian Mi-8 or Mi-17 helicopter. The heavy damage on the plunging helicopter appeared to confirm the use of a bigger missile to hit the helicopter compared to the damage caused by MANPADS, AAA or small arms fire. Also, a video filming the TV screen inside the Osa vehicle matches another video taken outside. Another video of a different engagement surfaced on 18 January 2014, this time missing the intended target.

On 23 March 2014, one MiG-23 was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16, when it allegedly entered Turkish air space during a ground attack mission against Al Qaeda-linked insurgents. The pilot ejected and managed to return to a Syrian Army checkpoint and denies violating Turkish air space. The plane crashed one kilometer inside the Syrian side

on 23th Jun. 2014 SyAAF MiG-23BN Shot Down by Al Muthanna Bin Haretha battalion in the eastern Qalamoun area to the north of Damascus.

On 30 June 2014, SyAAF pilot Brig.General Bassam Ali Muhammad during his attack sortie against ground targets in the county of Hama governorate while he was flying his MiG-21, but both sides did not confirm whether it was brought down by an AA gun or a MANPAD. The aircraft crashed 10 km to the east of Hama AFB as reported by insurgents/rebels observers.

In August 2014 after the capture of al-Tabqa Air Force base in Raqqa, the Islamic State displayed three captured combat planes MiG-21 in a propaganda video.

On 18 August 2014 a Syrian MiG-23 was either crashed (according to regime reports) or shot down (as per reports of rebels). The aircraft which was code-numbered 617 and based in Hama AFB, was actually an MF variant and piloted by Major Aref Amin Bsesini (born in 1984) who was KIA due to a failure in ejection

On 18 September the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed for the first time that it shot down a war plane (Probably MiG-21) conducting an airstrike on Raqqa city.

On 23 September 2014, one Su-24 was shot down by an Israeli Air Force MIM-104 Patriot Air Defense system, when it allegedly crossed the Syrian-Israeli ceasefire line during a ground attack mission against Al Qaeda insurgents.

On 10th Nov. 2014, a Syrian MiG-21bis serialed 2204 and code-numbered 660 operating from Hama AFB and piloted by Col. Tha'er Aref Saqqour is downed 45 km to the east of the airbase near Sabboura town. Later one, tonight, a graphic photo emerged for the corpse of the pilot whom was KIA.

On 30 November 2014, a USAF F-16CJ departing for a night combat mission against the Islamic State had a mechanical malfunction shortly after takeoff and the pilot attempted to get back to an airstrip in Jordan, but did not make it. The plane crashed and the pilot was killed.

On 24 December 2014, a Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16AM crashed near Raqqa, Syria, and its pilot, Flight Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh, was captured by Islamic State militants. Initially reported as shot down by enemy fire, the ISIL reported it downed the F-16 with a MANPADS while it was flying at low altitude. Later, the US CENTCOM rejected the claim, ruling out hostile fire as the cause of the crash, without further details.

2015

On 18 January 2015 a Syrian Air Force Antonov An-26 transport plane crashed attempting to land at the besieged Abu al-Duhur military airport, killing all 35 soldiers on board. The cause of the crash was disputed, with the government blaming the crash to heavy fog while Al-Nusra claiming they shot it down it.

On 30 January 2015, ISIS claimed it shot down a Syrian Air Force fighter MiG-21Bis in Bir Qassab area of Damascus.

On 17 February 2015, Syrian helicopter was reportedly downed by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front over a military base in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

On 17 March 2015, a US MQ-1 Predator drone was shot down by a Syrian Air Defense Force S-125 missile while on intelligence flight near the coastal town of Latakia.

On 22 March 2015, a Syrian Navy Mil Mi-14 helicopter crashed or was downed over opposition held rural Idlib. At least 1 crew member was summarily executed on the spot, 4 were taken captive, and 1 remains unaccounted for. Mi-14 crews tried to employ naval mines as improvised aerial bombs by dropping them from high altitude towards a target area with poor results.

On 20 April 2015, a SyAAF L-39 operating from Kweres AFB fell down due to a technical failure -as reported from the airbase personnel- and crashed near the Military Housing of the airbase resulting in the death of the co-pilot Captain Ali Zaher while the pilot ejected safely and was returned to base.

On 24 April 2015, ISIS downed a Syrian MiG-23ML flying east of Khalkhalah air base in Sweida province. Pro - ISIS Twitter accounts claimed jihadist groups had captured the pilot, but later evidence suggested the pilot, Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, shot himself to avoid capture. State Television say the aircraft crashed due to "technical problems" on a training exercise and that the search for the pilot was ongoing.

May 2015, one Su-24M2 was heavily damaged by anti-aircraft fire and crashed while returning to base. Both the pilot and navigator ejected safely.

On 16 May 2015, two Turkish Air Force F-16s shot down a Syrian Mohajer 4 UAV firing two AIM-9 missiles after it trespassed into Turkish airspace for 5 minutes. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the target after being hit by the chasing F-16s breaking in three before crashing on the Syrian side of the border. Initially Turkey claimed it was a helicopter, but later confirmed it was an UAV.

During the Tadmur offensive (2015), ISIL captured Tadmur airbase. Two Mi-17s were found destroyed on the runway, and analysts suspect many MiGs are in storage in the bases 16 Hardened Aircraft Shelters, however most if not all of them in a derelict status.

On 24 May 2015, a Syrian military Mi-17 helicopter crashed near the Kweyris air base in Aleppo, which ISIL has besieged for over a year. All the crew composed of three people died. While the government claims it crashed due to technical failure, ISIL sources claim it was shot down.

On 28 May 2015 two Su-24s were believed to have been destroyed on the ground, while being rearmed, during which an explosion occurred, resulting in the death of at least five and wounding another dozen.

On 11 June 2015, a Syrian Air Force Su-24 exploded in midair and crashed in the eastern countryside of Dara'a near Nahta village. While the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army brigade Yarmouk Army claimed they shot it down when passing over the Brigade 52 base with 23mm AA fire, the damage suggests a midair weapon explosion as the cause of the crash. The Syrian Media Organisation captured footage of the Su-24 going down.

On 13 June 2015, around 00:25 morning, a SyAAF Mil Mi-8/17 (serial is still unknown) and piloted by Lieutenant Col. Ahmad Saleh and Lieutenant Col. Muhammad Khaddour, was shot down by ISIS shortly after it took off from Kweres AFB (Aviation Academy). The crew including a third First Lieutenant Humam Ali are KIA.

on 25 June 2015, a SyAAF Mil Mi-25 operating from Blai AB was reportedly crashed in the northern county of Homs governorate near Izz Eddin village. Rebels claimed shooting down this helicopter while regime media states it is another 'Technical Failure'. Crew consisted of Brig. General pilot Samir Al-Shekha, Captain Rami Mustafa and first lieutenant Alaa' ِAhmad Al-Ali, all are KIA.

On 28 June 2015, a SyAAF MiG-21bis (serial is unknown) operating from Deir EzZour airbase and piloted by Brig. General Suheil Omran, crashed to the east of the airfield. The pilot is KIA. ISIS reports stated that the aircraft is shot down by AA fire.

On 3 August 2015, a Syrian Air Force MiG-21bis, departed from Hama Air Force base, crashed into a marketplace in the north-western town of Ariha during a bombing run when the pilot could not pull up after bomb release. The pilot died in the crash and several others were killed on the ground as a result of the air attack and plane crash.

It is reported today from insiders at Kweres AB that yesterday, 26 August 2015, a SyAAF L-39 (yet unknown serial) piloted by Col. Mazen Ghanm fell down due to a technical failure and crashed to the south of the airbase resulting in the death of the pilot.

On 15 September 2015, a Syrian Mi-17 helicopter was shot down when it was hit by a MANPADS shortly after take off. A first shot strayed away, while a second missile shot the aircraft down killing the crew.

On 17 September 2015, a Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-22M4 crashed near the Jazal Oil Field area. Insurgents claimed they shot it down.

On 8 October 2015, a Syrian helicopter was downed near the village of Kafr Nabouda in northern Hama.

On 4 November 2015, a Syrian MiG-23, was downed by AA fire in northwest Hama, near the town of Kafr Nabuda, where fighting has been raging between insurgents and government forces backed by air cover. The pilot was killed in action.

On 24 November 2015 a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 near the Syria–Turkey border, with both sides arguing about the actual position of the stricken aircraft, either hit on the Turkish or Syrian side of the border. Both crew members ejected, the pilot killed by ground fire while descending while the Weapon System Officer rescued by a CSAR mission.

On 24 November 2015 two Russian Mi-8AMTsh helicopters were sent to find and recover the pilots from the crash site of the Su-24M downed before. One of the helicopters was damaged by small-arms fire from Syrian Turkmen Brigade militants, resulting in the death of a naval infantryman, and was forced to make an emergency landing. All the surviving crew of the helicopter were rescued and evacuated later on. The Free Syrian Army's 1st Coastal Division claimed that they subsequently destroyed the abandoned helicopter using a US-made BGM-71 TOW missile.

2016

On 12 March 2016, a Syrian MiG-21 was shot down by Jaysh al-Nasr over Hama near Kafr Nabudah. There were conflicting accounts of how it was brought down, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the warplane had been downed by two heat-seeking missiles, while Jaysh al-Nasr militants say they shot it down with anti-aircraft guns. Video evidence suggesting it was a MANPADS. It seems the pilot ejected, but died, either killed by ground fire while descending or other causes.

On 5 April 2016, the al-Nusra Front reportedly downed a Su-22 jet likely using a MANPADS in Aleppo near al-Eiss village while on a reconnaissance mission. The pilot was captured by rebel forces. Some sources state that the plane was actually downed by Ahrar Al-Sham, a coalition of Islamist and Salafist units, and handed to Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra.

On 12 April 2016, a Russian Air Force Mil Mi-28N, crashed near Homs, killing its crew of two. The Russian government ruled out enemy fire as the reason of the crash.

On 22 April 2016, a Syrian MiG-23ML of No. 67 squadron piloted by Capt. Azzam Eid and operating from Al-Dumayr Military Airport, serial 2754, crashed to the east of Dakwa mounts in the eastern countryside of Damascus. An engine failure was blamed to be the cause of the crash according to the Syrian Armed Forces, while the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed it was shot down with an Anti Aircraft weapon, but apparently did not claim responsibility. The pilot ejected and was likely captured by enemy forces.

On 19 June 2016, a Syrian MiG-21 crashed shortly after take off at Hama airbase, killing its pilot and two people on the ground on impact. The aircraft apparently a MiG-21bis variant came down to a technical failure shortly after takeoff during which the pilot reported a technical fault.

On 27 June 2016, a Syrian MiG-23BN crashed killing its pilot.

On 1 July 2016, a Syrian Su-22M3 crashed near Jairood town in the Qalamoun region due to what the local insurgents themselves described as "technical failure". The pilot was captured by Jaish Al-Islam and later executed.

On 1 July 2016, a Syrian Mi-25 was shot down by rebels in Jurud Al-Qalamoun resulting in the death of three crew members.

In the late afternoon of 5 July 2016 a Syrian Arab Air Force MiG-23 from As Seen air base crashed in flames near Maydaa, in Eastern Ghouta, supposedly killing its pilot, Ali Shawkat Soleiman.

On 5 July 2016, a US MQ-9 Reaper crashed in Syria close Tabqua. the remains of the drone were destroyed by air-strike to prevent falling in enemy hands.

On 8 July 2016, a Russian Mi-35M crashed after its tail rotor was severed off by an explosion during a rocket attack against IS positions near Palmyra. Based on the video, it may have been shot down by Islamic State militants or suffered self-destruction by a misfired roket, a friendly fire theory has also been suggested. Both Russian pilots were killed. According to the statement released by the Russian MoD, it was a Syrian Mi-25 helicopter with a Russian crew undergoing flight testing, but being called into action to attack a large group of insurgents near Palmyra. However the video released later, clearly shows a Mi-24 variant with fixed/extended landing gears during a rocket attack, pointing to a Russian Mi-35M version.

On 14 July 2016, a Syrian MiG-21 crashed in the Deir ez-Zor region, killing its pilot. It is not know if it crashed due to technical issues or shot down by Islamic State forces as they claimed and incorrectly identified the aircraft as a MiG-23.

On 20 July 2016, a SyAAF L-39ZO operating from T4 AB and piloted by Col. Salman Suleiman and 1st Ltnt. Ghadir Eid is shot down by AAA in eastern rural of Hama governorate resulting in the death of both pilots.

On 28 July 2016, pro-regime sources reported that pilot Major Mohammad Suleiman Ismail whom was flying a MiG-23ML took off from Nasriyeh AB and died when his fighter hit the ground in Qalamoun mounts area.

On 1 August 2016, a Russian Mi-8AMTSh transport helicopter was shot down by ground fire in the Idlib Governorate while returning to the Khmeimim Air Base. Three crew members and two officers from Russia's Reconciliation Center in Syria were killed on what was a humanitarian mission, according to Russia's Ministry of Defence.

On 2 September 2016, rebels released footage of a TOW ATGM hitting SyAAF Aérospatiale Gazelle while landing on an airstrip near Khattab in Northern Hama. The helicopter exploded in mid-air and both pilots were killed.

On 4 September 2016, a SyAAF L-39 crashed nearby Sadad town, around 50 km to the south of Homs city. The pilot died in the crash. It is not clear whether the jet crashed for technical malfunction or was shot down.

On 18 September 2016, ISIS fighters succeeded to shoot down a SyAAF MiG-21 which crashed at Al-Thardah mount area near Deir ez-Zor AB, the pilot is KIA.

On 21 September 2016, ISIS fighters says it shot down a jet SyAAF, according to testimonies registered on social networks it is a MiG-23 fighter Syrian Air Force has been wrecked near the airbase of Al-Dumayr, 40 kilometers from the capital.

On 24 September 2016, ISIS claimed responsibility for shooting down an American drone (probably MQ-1 Predator) near Shaddadi City, in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah Governorate.

On 3 November 2016, a Russian Mi-35 made an emergency landing near Syria's Palmyra city, and was shot at after it touched down, but the crew returned safely to the Hmeimim air base.

On 14 November 2016, a MiG-29KUB crashed en route back to the carrier following a planned mission over Syria after a previous MiG landing on the Admiral Kuznetsov snapped one of its arrestor cables which prevented the doomed aircraft from landing before running out of fuel. Pilot ejected and survived.

On 3 Dec. 2016, a SyAAF L-39 operating from Neyrab AB was reported crashed nearby the citadel of Aleppo. With no party claims shooting down this aircraft with solid evidence the crash most likely occurred due to a technical failure; both crew are KIA.

On 3 December 2016, the Russian Navy's Admiral Kuznetsov air wing suffered its second loss in less than a month when a Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D combat aircraft crashed into the sea after the plane snapped the arrestor cable. Pilot ejected and survived.

On 10 December 2016, a Syrian Air Force MiG-23MLD crashed in Hayyan field in eastern rural are of Homs governorate; the pilot ejected and was recovered by friendly forces. Government media refers the incident to a "Technical Failure" while ISIS are claiming they shot it down.

On 19 December 2016, a SyAAF Aérospatiale Gazelle was shot down by ISIS in T4 AB surroundings. The Gazelle was piloted by Brig. Gen. Khedr Al-Hussain and Major Abbas Yunes, both were KIA.

2017

On 6 January 2017, two SyAAF L-39ZA were destroyed while parked in their shelters at Deir ez-Zor airbase by two Anti-tank missiles fired by IS forces besieging the airport.

On 5 Feb 2017, a SyAAF Su-22M3 operating from Neyrab AB and piloted by Lieutenant Col. Bassel Saleh crashed on the approach to land in the said airfield resulting in the death of the pilot.

On 4 March 2017, a SyAAF MiG-21bis from No. 679 squadron operating from Hama AB and piloted by Col. Mohammad Sawfan was shot down by rebels and subsequently crashed in Turkish territory nearby the borders; the pilot in question has successfully ejected but been arrested and taken to a hospital in Antakya. The pilot whom was suspended from flight some years back, was returned to service recently; it's believed this was his first sortie after suspension. A recording for the last conversation between the pilot and the GC I received, clearly shows the pilot was dis-oriented due to a technical failure malfunctioned the compass first then the whole navigation system. After that the pilot couldn't recognize his way back to base -as requested by the GC- which put him under range of AAA of Ahrar Al-Sham rebels.

References

List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Syrian Civil War Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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