Ahrar al-Sham claims to down Syrian Mig 21 on Turkish border

[airforces_freak]

Islamist extremists 'shoot down Syrian air force plane with home-made anti-aircraft missile'
Terror group Ahrar al-Sham claimed to have shot down the warplane
Syrian pilot reportedly eject safety from the fighter jet, landed on Turkish soil
The Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) confirmed it had lost contact to a plane
Syria denied the plane had been shot down, saying it had technical difficulties
By Hannah Al-Othman For MailOline
PUBLISHED: 04:32 +11:00, 5 March 2017 | UPDATED: 11:00 +11:00, 5 March 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... plane.html

Islamic extremists claim to have shot down a Syrian air force plane close to the Turkish border.
Militant group Ahrar al-Sham claimed that one of its anti-aircraft units shot down the warplane with a homemade Manpad system known as 'Olive one'.

Turkey's state-run news agency also reported that a plane has crashed near the Syria-Turkey border.

The Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) confirmed it had lost contact to a plane, which flying low in Idlib province, but denied it had been shot down.

A source said the warplane had encountered technical difficulties, which had caused it to rapidly drop in altitude.
The Syrian pilots reportedly eject safety from the fighter jet, landing on Turkish soil in the country's Hatay province.
The pilots are believed to be in custody in Turkey.

Hatay province governor Erdal Ata told Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency that the plane was 'likely' a military aircraft, but that there was no airspace violation and no intervention by Turkish forces, adding that it might have been a technical problem.
Rescue teams have been sent to the area.

Private Dogan news agency reported nearby villagers had called authorities reporting a crash at around 6.30pm local time Saturday.

They also told authorities that the pilots had allegedly ejected before the crash.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters that 'we have information that a MIG model plane belonging to the Syrian regime' had crashed near the town of Samandag.
Mr Ata said rescue teams had arrived at the wreckage and reported that the cockpit was empty.
Ahmed Karaali, spokesman for the opposition military group Ahrar al-Sham, told Anadolu that they shot the plane down because it was bombing the countryside in the north-western Syrian town of Idlib.
Al-Masdar News claims to have obtained a leaked recording of a conversation between the pilot and a Syrian aerial command centre.

The recording revealed that radar issues meant that the plane was unable to turn back.
Islamist militants in Idlib have previously downed several jets that have flown over rebel-held areas.
The extremists have captured and executed Syrian and Russian pilots after their planes were brought down behind enemy lines.

[airforces_freak]

Turkish Air Force Search and Rescue Teams have located the Syrian pilot and transferred him to hospital. His condition is stable.

[mixelflick]

This is terrible, although he got out alive..

He looks old. Are the Syrians that hard up for pilots?

[airforces_freak]

This is terrible, although he got out alive..

He looks old. Are the Syrians that hard up for pilots?

Pilot's name is Mehmet Sufhan.
Age: 56
Rank: Colonel

The majority of young pilots have defected to the Free Syria Army leaving behind the most senior pilots.

He is lucky to have landed in the Turkish Republic. Had he fallen onto Rebel hands or ISIS territory the outcome would have been much different for him.

[southernphantom]

This is terrible, although he got out alive..

He looks old. Are the Syrians that hard up for pilots?

He is lucky to have landed in the Turkish Republic. Had he fallen onto Rebel hands or ISIS territory the outcome would have been much different for him.

You got that right...