[jokar]

Apparently, the helicopter was overloaded.

This would account for their poor gas mileage.

[Destro]

As sad as this downing was, it just underscores that the Chechen rebels either don't have that many SAMs or what they have they use poorly. It seems the report was right the Chechens sent in a commando team for this one purpose to try and force Russia to negotiate. Too little too late on the Chechen's part.