Russian jet shot down by Turkey

Channel 4 News

24 Nov 201503:45

Summary

TLDRA Russian fighter bomber was shot down by Turkey for violating its airspace, with a Turkish TV crew capturing the incident. The pilots ejected but were reportedly killed by Syrian Turkmen rebels. Turkey released radar tracking, accusing Russia of border violations. Russia denies this, claiming they were bombing Turkmen rebels in Syria. The incident highlights the complex dynamics in Syria, where both Russia and Turkey are fighting ISIS but have divergent interests, with Russia supporting the Assad regime and Turkey opposing it.

Takeaways

🔴 A Russian fighter bomber was shot down at 6,000 ft by Turkey, signaling a strong stance against airspace violations.
📹 A Turkish TV crew captured the incident, ensuring global awareness of Turkey's response to the violation.
🪂 The pilots ejected and their parachutes were found by ethnic Turkmen rebels, who are allied with the Turkish government.
🎯 The Russian aircraft was reportedly shot down by a Turkish F16, based on radar tracking provided by Turkey.
🚫 Russia denies that their jets violated Turkish airspace, maintaining they were on a mission to bomb Turkmen rebels in Syria.
🏰 President Putin described the incident as a 'stab in the back' during a meeting with the King of Jordan.
🤬 The Turkish president and prime minister expressed anger over both the border violation and Russia's bombing of Syrian Turkmen.
🛑 Russia's military is engaged in a 'heroic battle' against terrorism, as stated by the Turkish president, despite today's loss.
🔍 Russian helicopters searched for the pilots, while Syrian rebels filmed the incident, highlighting the ongoing conflict.
✅ The rebels used an American-made TOW missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter, viewing it as a victory against both Russia and the Syrian regime.
🌐 The incident underscores the complex dynamics in Syria, where Turkey and Russia, though both ostensibly fighting ISIS, have conflicting priorities with Turkey opposing and Russia supporting the Assad regime.

Q & A

What event is described in the transcript?
-The transcript describes the shooting down of a Russian fighter bomber by Turkish forces at 6,000 ft, with the incident being filmed by a Turkish TV crew.
What was the reaction of the ethnic Turkman Rebels in Syria to the event?
-The ethnic Turkman Rebels in Syria celebrated the event, with some brandishing a piece of a parachute from the downed pilots.
What was the fate of the Russian pilots according to the transcript?
-The transcript suggests that the pilots ejected and opened their parachutes but were later retrieved dead, with one video showing what appears to be fighters around the body of a pilot.
How did Turkey justify its actions?
-Turkey justified its actions by stating that it will not accept violations of its airspace and that the Russian jets had crossed into Turkish airspace.
What was Russia's response to the incident?
-Russia denied that their fighter jets violated Turkish airspace and described the loss as a 'stab in the back' by terrorists.
What was the context of the Russian military's actions in Syria?
-The Russian military was conducting a campaign in support of the Syrian government, targeting groups that pose the greatest threat to Bashar al-Assad, rather than ISIS.
What was the Turkish government's stance on the Syrian Turkman?
-The Turkish government viewed the Syrian Turkman as allies and was upset about Russia's bombing of them, as they see these actions as attacks on a region where ISIS is scarcely present.
What was the broader implication of the incident for the fight against ISIS?
-The incident highlighted a divergence in priorities between Turkey and Russia, with Turkey more focused on defeating Assad and Russia on protecting him, which allowed ISIS to continue its rule elsewhere in Syria undisturbed.
What weapon was used by the rebels to shoot down one of the Russian helicopters?
-The rebels used an American-made TOW surface-to-surface missile to shoot down one of the Russian helicopters.
How did the ongoing fighting between rebels and the Syrian government relate to the incident?
-The fighting between rebels supported by Turkey and the Syrian government backed by Russia continued in the same area where the pilots were shot down, indicating a complex and multifaceted conflict.
What was the implication of the incident for the relations between Turkey and Russia?
-The incident strained relations between Turkey and Russia, as both countries faced off against each other while they were supposed to be fighting ISIS.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Russian Fighter Bomber Downing

A Russian fighter bomber was shot down by Turkey at 6,000 ft after it allegedly violated Turkish airspace. The incident was captured by a Turkish TV crew, and the pilots ejected over the mountains bordering Turkey and Syria. The footage showed the plane falling and the pilots' parachutes opening. The Syrian Turkmen rebels, who are allied with Turkey, celebrated the downing of the plane and filmed the wreckage. The pilots were reportedly killed in the air by the rebels. Turkey released a map showing the radar tracking of the Russian aircraft and the Turkish F16 that engaged them. The incident occurred while President Putin was meeting with the King of Jordan. Russia denied that their aircraft violated Turkish airspace and claimed they were bombing Turkmen rebels in Syria as part of their anti-terrorism mission. The Turkish president and prime minister expressed anger over the border violation and Russia's bombing of the Syrian Turkmen, accusing Russia of aiding Assad's regime. The downing of the Russian aircraft is seen as a significant escalation in the conflict between Turkey and Russia, both of whom are supposed to be fighting ISIS but have other strategic interests in Syria.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Russian fighter bomber

A Russian fighter bomber is a type of military aircraft designed for both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. In the context of the video, it refers to the aircraft that was shot down by Turkey, indicating a significant military event that escalates tensions between the two countries. The script mentions 'the Russian fighter bomber was shot down', emphasizing the gravity of the incident.

💡Turkish airspace

Turkish airspace refers to the region above Turkey's territory where the country has sovereign rights to control and manage air traffic. The video's theme revolves around the violation of this airspace by the Russian aircraft, which is a critical point of contention between Turkey and Russia. The script states 'Turkey will not accept violations of its airspace', highlighting Turkey's stance on the matter.

💡Pilots ejected

In aviation, 'pilots ejected' refers to a situation where pilots are forced to leave their aircraft in an emergency, usually using an ejection seat. This term is significant in the video as it describes the immediate aftermath of the fighter bomber being shot down, indicating a life-threatening situation for the pilots. The script mentions 'the pilots ejected and opened their parachutes', showing a moment of high drama.

💡Syria

Syria is a country in the Middle East that has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011. The video discusses the geopolitical implications of the incident, as the Russian aircraft was reportedly bombing Turkmen Rebels inside Syria. The script refers to 'bomb turkmen Rebels inside Syria', indicating the complex web of alliances and conflicts in the region.

💡Rebel Fighters

Rebel Fighters are individuals or groups that oppose a government or established order, often through armed conflict. In the video, they are shown celebrating the downing of the Russian aircraft and are described as being close to the Turkish government. The script mentions 'Rebel Fighters filmed where it fell', illustrating the local dynamics and the broader implications of the incident.

💡Turkmen Rebels

The Turkmen Rebels are an ethnic Turkmen group in Syria that is opposed to the Syrian government. They are mentioned in the video as being targeted by Russian airstrikes, which土耳其 sees as an attack on its allies. The script states 'our Fighters will bring the bodies here', referring to the Turkmen Rebels, showing their involvement in the incident.

💡F16

The F16 is a widely used multirole fighter aircraft. In the video, it is suggested that a Turkish F16 may have been involved in shooting down the Russian aircraft. The script mentions 'a Turkish aircraft possibly their F16', indicating the potential military response from Turkey.

💡President Putin

President Putin refers to the leader of Russia. The video discusses his reaction to the incident, which is a key aspect of the escalating diplomatic tensions. The script mentions 'a day where you have President Putin was meeting the King of Jordan', suggesting the international implications of the event.

💡Islamic State

The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, is a terrorist organization that has been active in Iraq and Syria. The video discusses the complex situation in Syria, where both Turkey and Russia are supposed to be fighting ISIS, but have other priorities as well. The script states 'both have other priorities', indicating the competing interests in the region.

💡Surface-to-air missile

A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a type of missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. The video mentions the use of an American-made TOW missile, which was used by the rebels to shoot down a Russian helicopter. The script refers to 'the rebels used an American-made TOW surface to surface missile', showing the involvement of foreign weapons in the conflict.

💡Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria. The video discusses the complex alliances in the Syrian conflict, with Russia supporting Assad's regime while Turkey opposes it. The script mentions 'the Syrian government backed by Russia', indicating the divided loyalties in the ongoing civil war.

Highlights

Russian fighter bomber was shot down at 6,000 ft

Turkish TV crew filmed the incident

Turkey asserts it will not accept airspace violations

Pilots ejected and parachuted over the Turkey-Syria border

Rebel Fighters filmed the wreckage 4 km inside Syria

Ethnic Turkman Rebels celebrated the downing

Pilots were retrieved dead, with one's body brought to Turkey

Turkey released a map showing radar tracking of the incident

Russia denies their fighter jets violated Turkish airspace

Russian military claims it's fighting a heroic battle against terrorism

Turkish president and prime minister met to discuss the incident

Turkey is angry about Russia's bombing of Syrian Turkmen

Russia's air campaign supports the Syrian government against rebels

Rebels used an American-made TOW missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter

Turkey and Russia are meant to be fighting ISIS but have other priorities

Turkey cares more about defeating Bashar al-Assad, Russia about protecting him

Two pilots were shot down as Russia and Turkey faced off

ISIS continues its rule in Syria undisturbed by the conflict