Russian SU-24 shot down by Turkey.

[Nobama]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Has Turkey released a statement yet? I can't see them purposely shooting down the jet and then picking the pilots off unless it was ISIS operatives or those sympathetic to their cause. An official statement could go a long ways in relieving any possible tension. Or make it worse, depends how you look at your partially filled glass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnta...ature=youtu.be

Make it worse?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Nobama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnta...ature=youtu.be

Make it worse?

Yup.

[Street Pharmacist]

RT news saying the pilots were shot by rebels as they were clearly over Syrian airspace

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Thor

This is the flight path reported by Turkey, I tend to believe the jets did enter Turkey airspace but this seems like a really minor breach, certainly not worthy of a shoot down.

Even a minor breach is worthy of defending. Especially if the Russians have been pushing and testing Turkey by flying through their airspace in previous incidents. I believe the Russian military has a history of their aircraft encroaching on the airspace of other sovereign nations.

[DuffMan]

Russia is sure getting itself involved in a lot.

[KTrain]

Syrian rebels have now shot down the Russian rescue helicopters sent in to search for the pilots.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...t-down-6891003

[Looch City]

What a cluster ####.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by Nobama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnta...ature=youtu.be

Make it worse?

Buckle up, buckaroo.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I believe the Russian military has a history of their aircraft encroaching on the airspace of other sovereign nations.

So does Turkey, most notably against Greece and Armenia. The most recent Armenian example was a Turk incursion of two minutes. The Russians have a military presence in Armenia and will likely not let the next incursion pass without a retaliation.

[Leondros]

Sounds like the US is saying Turkey got a little trigger happy...

Per the guardian http://www.theguardian.com/world/liv...r-live-updates:

White House: 'Russian incursion into Turkish airspace lasted seconds'

Russia’s operation in Syria will continue despite the downing of a Russian fighter jet by the Turkish air force, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Meanwhile, a US official has said that initial indications are that the Russian incursion into Turkish airspace lasted a matter of seconds

[Fuzz]

I took a screen capture of that video, wonder who gave this one to the Syrians. Serial number clearly visible.

Spoiler!

[PIMking]

Jesus can't we all just get along?


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[Baron von Kriterium]

Turkey shot down a Russian fighter; FSA says they shot the pilot(s) out of the sky; CSAR chopper seems to have been blown up with a TOW; and it's only Tuesday.

Edit: Apparently the pilots are alive and being held by FSA or Turkmen. Ankarra trying to arrange their release.

[CaptainCrunch]

I doubt Russia will be able to do much to retaliate, they don't want to cross that line with NATO.

If an opportunity presents itself for an oopsy the Russians will certainly take it.

Indirectly they'll go after the Turkish supported rebel groups.

Shooting down a CSAR helicopter with a tow is first of all quite a feat, second of all, a major oopps. But the shooter can claim that he thought it was Syrian.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I doubt Russia will be able to do much to retaliate, they don't want to cross that line with NATO.

If an opportunity presents itself for an oopsy the Russians will certainly take it.

Indirectly they'll go after the Turkish supported rebel groups.

Shooting down a CSAR helicopter with a tow is first of all quite a feat, second of all, a major oopps. But the shooter can claim that he thought it was Syrian.

Watch the video, he didn't shoot it down, it was on the ground. It sure didn't look like an oops either, they knew what they were doing. I'd imagine Russia has already identified him and his family from the video, can't imagine he'll be alive to long.

[GirlySports]

I for one think it was high time turkeys starting fighting back this time of year.

[Fuzz]

^that's fine, but a Turkey poking a Bear is never a good idea.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

^that's fine, but a Turkey poking a Bear is never a good idea.

Bull####. Fate favours the bold.

[Pointman]

Seems like an overreaction from Turkey. Looking at the flight path and US words that it was only for some seconds, it doesn't seem like the shooting, which is effectively a murder of the pilots, was warranted. I do get that they entered Turkish airspace, but they were not taking or going to take any action against Turkey. So I disagree with the talk about "fighting back" or "defending". Russian pilots were at fault for sure and should have been punished, but that was a bit to harsh. Illegally crossing your territory without malicious intentions never warrants a shot, in any situation I can think of.

[gvitaly]

My condolences to the pilots' families. Its too bad that more good men died over stupid power struggles. Are a few seconds in an airspace enough to kill a man*? that is for each person to decide for themselves.

On the one side it was to send a message. On the other ISIS is very economically beneficial to Turkey at the moment. Will it accomplish anything except alienating Russia even further? doubtful.


*While the turkish didn't kill the Russian pilots, dropping their plane over enemy lines was essentially a death sentence.