Alive: One of the two downed Russian pilots escaped, says diplomat

One of the pilots of the Russian jet that was shot down by Turkey survived and is thought to be on his way back to his base, a diplomat has said. Russia’s ambassador to France said the pilot - one of two in the jet brought down on Tuesday near the border with Syria - was picked up by the Syrian army. Alexandre Orlov told Europe 1 radio: “One on board was wounded when he parachuted down and killed in a savage way on the ground by the jihadists in the area and the other managed to escape and, according to the latest information, has been picked up by the Syrian army and should be taken to the Russian airforce base.”

Our plane was shot down over the territory of Syria by an air-to-air missile from a Turkish F-16 jet. It fell in Syrian territory four kilometres from the border with Turkey. Our pilots and our plane did not in any way threaten Turkey.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin

A Turkish official claimed the two pilots are still alive and the country is working to secure their release from Syrian rebels. According to a US official, the SU-24 jet was hit inside Syrian airspace after briefly entering Turkish airspace. Russian president Vladimir Putin says the act was “a stab in the back” and would have serious consequences. There are conflicting reports as to where exactly the incident took place - inside Turkish airspace or just over the border in Syria. NATO said the incursion into Turkish airspace lasted 17 seconds, but Moscow claims its plane was over Syria when it was hit.

Diplomacy and de-escalation are important to resolve this situation.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg

Politics Russia Turkey