A Russian-made transport helicopter unexpectedly landed in Eldorado, North Carolina, USA, on the evening of August 12, raising both concern and speculation among the locals, who expressed fears of a potential terrorist threat.

The Mi-171E1, a variant of the Soviet-designed military transport and gunship helicopter, landed on a field just after 7 p.m. near the intersection of N.C. 109 and Old Thayer Mill Road, approximately six miles northwest of Troy.

Witnesses reported that the gray helicopter, which lacked identifying markings, unloaded at least seven men equipped with backpacks. These individuals then disappeared into the nearby woods.

The unexpected appearance of a military plane landing in a seemingly ordinary area, along with the mysterious vanishing of the individuals, swiftly sparked a wave of speculation and anxiety within the local community.

Adding to the mystery was the helicopter’s proximity to Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg, a key US Army installation located less than 75 miles away.

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The rapid dissemination of information on social media fueled rumors ranging from potential terrorist activities to undisclosed military operations, escalating local anxieties.

However, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office later disclosed that the helicopter landing was part of a US Army training exercise. The Army also acknowledged that a communication breakdown had contributed to the confusion.

A local property owner, Lee Hudson, explained that the incident arose from a misunderstanding. He pointed out that although the Army had reached out to a nearby store — which had previously been owned by the same person who owned the field where the helicopter landed — the store had recently changed ownership.

The new owner had approved the landing, but the actual landowner had not been informed. This oversight led to confusion and concern among the local community.

Hudson said the incident was a “big miscommunication” and assured the community that there were no malicious intentions behind the exercise. Everything was above board. They are not terrorists,” he stated, addressing the community’s concerns.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the event, Eldorado Outpost, a nearby local business, added a touch of humor to the situation with a playful Facebook post.

The business offered free parking for large vehicles, including helicopters, planes, and hot air balloons, and humorously requested that visitors leave their contact information if they planned to stay overnight.

The helicopter, which had remained at the site overnight, left the following day. Residents captured video footage showing the aircraft leaving the area.

Mi-17 Helicopter Likely Operated by Covert US Military Unit

The US Army has provided little information regarding its recent exercise involving helicopters. However, it is well known that the CIA and various US agencies are known to utilize Soviet-designed aircraft.

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Notably, three years ago, a Mi-17 helicopter had to make an emergency landing in someone’s backyard — also in North Carolina. During the recovery operation, a dark gray Bell 407 helicopter arrived with replacement parts, sparking considerable local curiosity and disruption.

Those helicopters were associated with a notably covert US military aviation unit, the Aviation Technology Office (ATO).

It is most likely that the ATO, a highly classified division of the US Army located at Felker Army Airfield in Fort Eustis, Virginia, is also the primary operator of the Mi-171E1 helicopter that landed in Eldorado.

The ATO, formerly the Flight Concepts Division (FCD), has longstanding connections with the CIA and is known for managing foreign-manufactured aircraft, including Mi-17 models.

Christiaan Triebert, an expert in open-source investigation and digital verification, suggested that the ATO may have operated the helicopter involved in the recent incident.

Triebert noted that aerial imagery available through Bing and Google displayed grey Mi-17 helicopters at Felker Army Airfield, which supports the theory that the ATO is involved.

The CIA has a well-documented history of utilizing Mi-17 helicopters, particularly for its operations in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.

During the final stages of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, CIA-operated helicopters were observed transporting personnel and Afghan allies to Hamid Karzai International Airport for evacuation, underscoring their crucial role in the mission.

According to publicly available information, the ATO provides highly specialized and discreet aviation support for special operations forces engaged in covert missions.

Additionally, the ATO plays a pivotal role in advancing Army aviation technology and developing cutting-edge innovations.

It is, for instance, credited with leading the development of stealth variants of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which were used in the 2011 raid on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

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