Russian Fighter Jet Shot Down at Turkey-Syria Border

 

FILE - A Turkish F-16 fighter jet approaches the tarmac of Incirlik airbase in the southern Turkish city of Adana.

Russia said Tuesday one of its Su-24 fighter jets was shot down along the border between Turkey and Syria, but said "firing from the ground" was responsible for downing the plane.
Turkish military officials, however, said their F-16 jets shot down the plane after it violated the country's airspace and ignored repeated warnings to leave.
Russia's defense ministry said the jet never left Syrian territory.  Russia also said its pilots ejected, but that their status was unknown.  Video from the area appeared to show two pilots parachuting down from the sky.
A U.S. State Department spokesman says they cannot confirm press reports that Turkish jets have downed a warplane of unknown origin, but are monitoring the situation closely.
Turkish officials have issued multiple warnings about aircraft violating its airspace during Syria's four-and-a-half-year civil war.  Its forces shot down a Syrian helicopter in 2013 and last month took down an unidentified drone that crossed into its territory.  Turkey has also complained about at least two instances of Russian jets flying in its airspace.
Russia began its military campaign in Syria in late September.  In October, it reached an agreement with the United States, which is leading a coalition of countries bombing militants in Syria, to keep a safe distance and communicate in order to prevent mid-air disasters.