23/03/2020 – An Mi-24 attack helicopter from the Ivory Coast’s Air Force has crashed – the second in four months.
The Mi-24D came down on 18 March at Felix Houphouet Boigny airport in Abidjan. It is not clear what caused the crash, but the aircraft sustained moderate damage, coming to rest on its side. Both pilots received minor injuries and could escape the helicopter by themselves.
The Mi-24D was assigned to the Escadrille de Chasse (attack squadron) based at Base Aérienne de Abidjan/Port Bouet, according to Scramble Magazine.
The incident is the second involving the Ivory Coast’s Mi-24 fleet. On 27 November 2019, an Mi-24D was lost in a collision with an Mi-17 parked on the ground at Katiola during a visit by President Alassane Ouattara. The Mi-24D was written off while the Mi-17, belonging to the Presidential Flight, sustained repairable damage.
It is believed that the Ivory Coast only had two serviceable Mi-24s, in service along with AW139 and AS365N helicopters. Transport aircraft in the fleet include An-26B, Beech 350, C295W, Airbus A319, Beech 1900D, Gulfstream III, IV and G550 aircraft.
Defence Web
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali) 