In the city of Kolomna, near Moscow, Russia’s air defense system reportedly shot down a light aircraft that may have been carrying Russian aviation blogger Pavel Koshkin. The incident, which occurred on March 20, was initially reported by Russian Telegram channels.

The Telegram channel MNS, citing its own sources, stated that air defense forces mistook the aircraft for a Ukrainian drone and opened fire on it. After being hit, the light plane crashed near the Oka River. According to the report, two people on board were killed.

Later, the Moscow region’s emergency services confirmed the plane crash and the deaths of two individuals. However, officials did not disclose the cause of the incident.

Footage shared by the Telegram channel 112 showed the aircraft’s tail number — RA-340IG. The same registration number had previously appeared on a plane featured in videos by Russian aviation blogger Pavel Koshkin.

Koshkin’s last posts on Instagram were published about a week before the crash. Since then, users have been leaving messages of condolence, expressing sorrow over his presumed death.

Destruction of Russian Aircraft: Latest Updates

Recently, it was reported that on the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter using an FPV drone. A video circulated online showing the helicopter engulfed in flames after being struck. Experts noted that this marked the first known instance of an attack helicopter being destroyed by an FPV drone and only the second documented case of helicopters being shot down by drones in midair during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Subsequently, pro-war Russian bloggers claimed that another Ka-52 had also been destroyed. Reports suggested that Russian attack helicopters are increasingly vulnerable to Ukrainian FPV drones. According to the blogger known as Fighterbomber, the main issue with installing portable electronic warfare systems on Mi-28 and Ka-52 helicopters lies in their lack of electromagnetic compatibility with the aircraft’s onboard systems. In other words, such systems could potentially interfere with the helicopter’s own electronics, creating additional risks.