Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed that two pilots died when a Russian Mi-24 helicopter crashed due to a technical fault near the Syrian Hama military airfield, on New Year’s Eve.

According to the Reuters, a Russian military Mi-24 helicopter crashed in Syria on Dec. 31 due to a technical fault, killing both pilots.

The ministry denied reports that Mi-24 had been in the line of fire.

According to the ministry, the two pilots died in a hard landing 9 miles away from the airfield. A flight engineer was injured in the accident and later evacuated by a search and rescue team to the Khmeimim air base, where he was provided medical assistance.

The Russian air campaign in support of anti-terrorist efforts by the Syrian authorities lasted from September 2015 to December 2017. In mid-December, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Khmeimim Airbase to announce the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country.