MOSCOW, Aug 31: A Russian Mi-24 military helicopter was shot down by a missile in Chechnya on Saturday, killing the two pilots, the ITAR-TASS news agency said.

It said two Mi-24 combat helicopters were escorting an Mi-8 transport chopper. The pilot of the first Mi-24 noticed the absence of the second chopper.

After a search, he discovered the wreckage on the ground and radioed a team of rescuers. On Aug 19, an Mi-26 helicopter was shot down by a missile. A total of 118 people were killed, the worst such incident in three years of fighting against Chechens.—AFP