Surviving Russian Pilot Of Downed Russian Jet Says ‘Turkey Gave Us No Warnings’

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The surviving pilot of a Russian jet brought down by Turkey has said that no warnings were given before they were shot at.

Vladimir Putin said earlier today that Captain Konstantin Murakhtin, who was initially reported to have been killed along with his fellow pilot, was ‘safe and sound’ following a 12-hour operation that involved the Syrian army and ended in the early hours this morning.

Turkish military officials said they gave the Russian pilots 10 warnings to return to Syrian airspace over a five-minute period before the plane was shot down, but Captain Murakhtin has now told Russian television that no warning was given, and there was ‘no way’ the jet violated in Turkish airspace.

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Putin vowed ‘significant consequences’ following news of the downing, and this revelation is unlikely to help the matter.

The Russian president called the action, which was the first time in half a century that a Nato member has downed a Russian plane, a ‘stab in the back by the terrorists’ accomplices’.

Turkey insists the pilots were warned 10 times before the plane was shot down.

 

Capt Murakhtin was speaking from the Hmeymim airbase, where Russia’s aircraft have been based in its Syrian campaign, and where he was taken after being rescued.

Read More: ‘Turkish jets gave us no warning before shooting’ – rescued pilot of downed Russian Su-24

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