Kremlin calls Russian warplane downing in Syria ‘very serious incident’

MOSCOW

REUTERS Photo

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman on Nov. 24 called the downing of a Russian Su-24 warplane in Syria a “very serious incident,” but said it was too early to draw conclusions. 

“So far, we have not heard the reason for the crash of our attack aircraft from the Defense Ministry. We know for sure that the aircraft was in Syrian airspace, over the territory of Syria,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, noting that the ministry’s first statement on the crash was based on preliminary information, according to Sputnik news agency.

The spokesman said that the jet was in Syrian airspace ahead of the crash, as previously stated by Russia’s Defense Ministry, and called for patience until the exact reason for the incident was established.

“It would be wrong to make some kind of assumptions right now, to make any statements until we have the complete picture. Therefore, we just have to be patient. This is a very serious incident, but again, it is impossible to say anything without complete information,” he added.

Ankara said that Turkish fighter jets had shot down a Russian-made warplane near the Syrian border on Nov. 24 after repeatedly warning it over air space violations. The Russian Defense Ministry said it could prove  its plane had not strayed into Turkish airspace.