Downed Russian pilot arrives at air base after 12-hour rescue mission by Syrian army
The serviceman was one of two Russian pilots in a plane shot down by Turkish fighter jets near the border with Syria
A Russian military pilot whose plane was shot down by Turkey and crashed in Syria arrived on Wednesday at an air base in Latakia province after being rescued by a Syrian army commando unit, Syrian and Russian officials said.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian news agencies that the man was rescued in a 12-hour operation which ended in the early hours on Wednesday and was now “safe and sound” at Russia’s air base in the government-controlled area in Syria.
Turkey shot down the Russian warplane on Tuesday, saying it ignored repeated warnings after crossing into its airspace from Syria. One of the two pilots was killed and captured by Syrian rebels who said they were searching for the other.
A statement from the Syrian armed forces on Wednesday said a special unit carried out overnight a “qualitative” operation with the Russian forces and rescued one of the two pilots.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also confirmed a second pilot has been rescued.