KHANKALA. Oct 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Chechen rebels shot down a Russian a MI-8 Hip helicopter outside Khankala at about 4:10 p.m. Moscow time (1310 GMT) on Tuesday, probably with a portable missile system, a source in the headquarters of the Combined Federal Forces in the North Caucasus told Interfax-Military News Agency.
There has been no official confirmation of this report. The number of people onboard remains unknown.
Meanwhile, a source in the headquarters of the Interior Ministry's grouping in the North Caucasus said that the helicopter was operated by the ministry.
Once hit by a missile, the helicopter rotated around its own axis for some time before falling and exploding, he said.