Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 11 November 2024 

A military helicopter transporting reinforcements to Ann Town in Arakan State, home of the Western Command, was struck by fire from the Arakan Army (AA) on November 10 but persisted toward Magway, leaving a trail of smoke, as per a military source. 

"The helicopter, leaving a trail of smoke, ascended gradually at a pace even less than that of a drone.  It is uncertain if it ultimately crashed. The information regarding the helicopter being struck is correct; we verified this by communicating with ground resistance troops,” the source stated. 

At approximately 12:00 pm on November 10, the junta deployed three fighter jets to carry out ongoing airstrikes on the mountains close to the Western Command in Ann Town. Four military helicopters delivered reinforcements, while two Y-12 planes transported supplies. Upon their return, one military helicopter was hit by gunfire from the Arakan Army (AA). 

At 2:00 pm, a round from anti-aircraft fire struck the helicopter, as reported by a military source. 

An officer from the Arakan Army (AA) subsequently shared on his social media at approximately 2:00 pm on November 11, claiming he was "100 percent sure" regarding the military helicopter. 

On the afternoon of November 11, Narinjara News reached out to AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha and he confirmed that the Mi-17 helicopter was struck by fire from the Arakan Army (AA) on November 10, replied from his social platform to Narinjara.

Accounts differ concerning the helicopter's urgent landing. Certain reports indicated it touched down at Kyauk Sone Monastery in Supadaung village, Ngape Township, Magway Division, whereas others claimed it executed an emergency landing in a field in Kan Pauk Village, Sidoktaya Township. 

Records indicate that between the 2021 coup and January 2024, resistance forces downed as many as five fighter jets and military helicopters of the junta air force. 

On January 16, 2024, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) downed a military jet in Kutkai Township, Shan State. 

On January 3, 2024, the KIA downed an Mi-17 helicopter in the Waingmaw area of Kachin State. 

On February 13, 2023, the Hkamti District PDF Battalion 1-Homalin and their allied forces downed a military helicopter close to Shwe Pyi Aye Town in Homalin Township, Sagaing Region. 

On November 11, 2023, the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) together with the Karenni Army (KA) brought down a K8 W light attack plane in the Karenni area. 

On May 3, 2021, a Mi-35 attack helicopter was shot down by the KIA in the Momauk area of Kachin State. ( File photo)