The video will start in 8 Cancel

The Daily Star's FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Sign up today! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jaw-dropping footage from Turkey shows fighters loading a Russian-made MANPADS surface-to-air missile launcher.

Moments later a missile is hurtling towards a distant helicopter, smashing its rear rotor off and sending it into a tailspin.

The helicopter then plummets to the floor trailing debris, in an attack that would claim the lives of both pilots.

(Image: YOUTUBE)

It comes after Turkey shot down a Russian plane in November, bringing the two nations to the brink of war.

Online sources indicate that responsibility for downing the helicopter lies with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The group is locked in an intensifying armed struggle against the Turkish state in a bid to win more rights for Kurdish people.

Hakkari province in Turkey, where the incident took place, has a majority Kurdish population and was the scene of fighting yesterday.

It’s believed six Turkish soldiers died fighting the Kurds combat near Çukurca and the helicopter was on its way to support the military.

Army sources initially said the helicopter had suffered a technical malfunction, but the new footage has revealed the truth.

Now some people are accusing the Russian government of arming the PKK in a bid to settle the score with Turkey.

Related content

Twitter user and lawyer Jodocus Quak wrote: “If Russia supplied MANPADS to PKK, it is yet another breach of sovereignty, which Turkey wants to avenge.”

Journalist Haidar Sumeri added: “Interesting to know where the PKK got them from. Old Iraqi army had them so maybe looted? Bought from Iraqi KR? Or a gift from Russia?”

Others have cast doubt on the suggestion, saying the weapons system would likely have got to the PKK by other means.

Middle East security expert Charles Lister said: “PKK has used Soviet/Russia-origin MANPADS before, but not for several years.

“Likely origin is Syria. Less likely is Russia or existing PKK stock.”

Eight Turkish soldiers and at least six rebels were also killed in the fighting yesterday.