1988-06-23: 1988 British Army Lynx shootdown — United Kingdom

No fatalitiesUnited Kingdom

On June 23, 1988, an Army Air Corps Westland Lynx helicopter was shot down by the Provisional IRA near Aughanduff Mountain in Northern Ireland. The aircraft crashed but was recovered by British forces.

What happened

During the afternoon of June 23, 1988, a Westland Lynx helicopter operated by the Army Air Corps (AAC) was engaged by paramilitary forces in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The aircraft, identified by serial number XZ664, was targeted near Aughanduff Mountain by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's South Armagh Brigade.

The IRA unit utilized automatic rifles and heavy machine guns to fire upon the British military helicopter. The sustained attack disabled the aircraft, forcing it to make an emergency landing in a nearby open field. Despite the damage inflicted during the engagement, the helicopter remained intact enough to be recovered by British forces shortly after the incident.

Investigation

The source material does not provide specific details regarding formal investigative proceedings or official reports beyond the immediate account of the event. The recovery of the aircraft and crew by British forces is noted as the concluding action of the incident.

Probable cause

Deliberate attack by the Provisional IRA using automatic rifles and heavy machine guns