Two pilots parachute out of downed Russian-made jet near Turkish-Syrian border

Two pilots parachute out of downed Russian-made jet near Turkish-Syrian border

ISTANBUL - Television footage released by Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency appeared to show two pilots parachuting out of a jet downed near the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday.

Turkish F-16 fighter jets shot down the war plane, of unknown origin, after it violated Turkish air space close to the Syrian border and ignored warnings, a Turkish military official told Reuters.

The warplane was a Russian-made SU-24, Turkish presidential sources said, adding it was downed in line with Turkey's rules of engagement after violating Ankara's airspace.

President Tayyip Erdogan has been briefed by the head of the military and will talk to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the sources said.

Russia's defence ministry said the downed fighter jet was Russian and did not violate Turkish airspace, the RIA news agency reported.

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