On Tuesday morning, Turkish military officials said Turkish warplanes had shot down a foreign fighter jet after it entered its airspace from Syria. The F-16 was warned repeatedly, the officials said, when the jet's pilot failed to respond, they began shooting.
Meanwhile, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the Russian defense ministry, who said an Su-24 had crashed in northern Syria after two pilots ejected. And on social media, footage showing the gold stream of smoke and fire from a falling warplane began to emerge. Here's the clip, via Twitter.
Video footage of downed warplane near Turkey/Syria border #Syria #Turkey #Russia pic.twitter.com/pcEWXofeec #Russianplane #Russia
— Heval soro (@Zuttish) November 24, 2015
Now Moscow and Ankara are locked in fierce debate, with Moscow saying the jet didn't cross into Turkish airspace, and Turkey claiming it did. The Russian defense minister says a probe is underway to determine the cause of the Su-24's crash. This isn't the first time tension has arisen between Russia's air campaign and Syria's neighbor — last month, two Turkish fighter jets intercepted a Russian jet that crossed the border, Ankara claimed, while two Turkish jets had been "harassed" by an unidentified Mig-29.
On Twitter, the incident is already garnering responses spanning speculations about what will come next and musings about the strange, international state of the Syrian conflict. Have a look at a few of them below, via Twitter.
Judging from how nobody can tell whether the Russian plane was in Syria or Turkey, I'd say they need goal line technology in conflict zones.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) November 24, 2015
If I was Erdogan I'd just apologise profusely and cross my fingers and anything else possible then hope for the best. #Putin #Russianplane
— Travis (@ziggyreallysang) November 24, 2015
Turkey warned the Russian plane 10 times in 5 minutes. This is what happens when warnings stop: pic.twitter.com/XKN8dkoXge
— Exen (@Exen) November 24, 2015
The great thing is if it's a Russian plane Putin won't overreact at all* *buys tinned food.Heads to fallout shelter https://t.co/j4wwGsaYGS
— tom jamieson (@jamiesont) November 24, 2015
Dear #Turkey, the problem with shooting down a #Russianplane is that you'll be wrong even if you're right. https://t.co/z3S9c5tx2I
— Con Psalios (@Konstantinos305) November 24, 2015
A probe is in progress into the circumstances of the Russian plane’s crash - Russian MoD
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) November 24, 2015
A Nato power has just shot down a Russian plane. Exactly what everyone feared Russian intervention in Syria could lead to.
— Sam Gad Jones (@samgadjones) November 24, 2015
People who live 10.000 miles far from Turkey and Syria talking about russia bombing ISIS oil tankers like they know geography #Russianplane
— Ahmet Gulenay (@acgulenay) November 24, 2015
Quick! Send Putin some cats!! #Turkey #Russianplane pic.twitter.com/h9BsFG5809
— Peter Selie (@Sarcist) November 24, 2015
