Helicopter shot down in Michoacan

 Borderland Beat with C.E.M.  with information from Tully of forum

Five killed, yesterday including three agents aboard the helicopter patrolling the area

Researching through information published in mainstream, blog and social networking communities, a pilot and three state police were killed when a state police helicopter was shot down, (50 cal)this yesterday  around Cupuán del Rio, Michoacán, about 30 miles south of Apatzingán. The location is on the road leading to Tumbiscatío, a CT stronghold. Tumbiscatio was the site of many search efforts and gun clashes during the search for La Tuta.  Readers may recall autodefensas narrowly missing Tuta at his mother’s ranch, and their search of the adjacent caves.  The area is largely difficult or impossible to access by land.

The violence started when a group of CT including "El Papas," the brother of CT leader Ignacio Rentería Andrade (El Cenizo), and "El Cabezas" attempted to kidnap a farmer in the area.

El Cenizo, who acted as the right hand of La Tuta, was captured in February of this year, in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, which is on the border of Michoacán and Guerrero. (Cenzio at left)

Another group of armed civilians reacted to the kidnapping and killing "El Papas."  Other reports say the civilians were responding to the kidnapping were members of "Los Viagras."  Meaning; this as a clash between two groups of narcos.

After the shootout and killing of "El Papas," state authorities were dispatched to the area by land and air.  In this pursuit, CT gunmen shot down the state police helicopter.  The pilot and three police were killed, and another was seriously injured.

After the downing of the helicopter and the increased patrols sent in response, CT gunmen began hijacking  and burning  vehicles on the main toll road in the area (Autopista Siglo XXI) to stop the progress of security forces arriving in the area.

Note: 

Aircraft have been shot down prior to yesterday’s attack in the same area of Tierra Caliente.  This one was patrolling the area, which is difficult to patrol by land. These aircraft attacks differentiate from the 2015 Jalisco attack by CJNG, by the sophistication of weaponry and planning of defense that El Mencho has in his arsenal.  Mencho has made weaponry a priority and it is my opinion he has accumulated the greatest narco cache of superior weapons than any other organized crime group in Mexico.  Mencho has proven himself to be, calculating with excellent foresight, and alertness.  He and  leader, Chapito Isidro pose the most danger to Mexico if not stopped.  Both leaders are similar in nature and neither fall into the narco high life of Rolex's and buchonas, but rather keep a obscure low profile, while conducting their business.

With the information that is known, and although Los Viagras are in the area and are allied with Mencho, I do not think they conducted this attack, it makes more sense it was CT.