Turkey Shoots Down Russian Military Plane On Syrian Border ; NATO Calls Extraordinary Meeting

24 November,Moscow

The Turkish military has shot down a Russian warplane on the border with Syria Tuesday.

Turkey confirmed that its F-16s fired on the Russian plane as it had violated Turkish airspace and ignored repeated warnings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Su-24 was hit by air-to-air missiles fired by Turkish F-16s while it was flying over Syrian territory.

The two pilots ejected as their burning aircraft plunged into a Syrian hillside. Video footage has shown the dead body of one of the pilots, surrounded by armed rebels.

According to rebel and opposition activist sources, the first pilot was killed by opposition forces who shot at him as he landed after ejecting from the plane.

President Putin has condemned the downing of its warplane and described it as a stab in the back committed by accomplices of terrorists. Meanwhile, NATO is to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss what has happened.

Meanwhile, NATO allies will hold an extraordinary meeting later tonight at Ankara’s request to discuss the shooting down of Russian fighter jet .

An official of the The North Atlantic Council said in Brussels that the aim of this extraordinary meeting is for Turkey to inform NATO Allies about the downing of the Russian airplane.

The North Atlantic Council consists of ambassadors from the 28 NATO member states, including Turkey.