The second pilot of the Su-24 bomber downed by Turkey has been rescued by Syrian forces and is safe, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday.
“The operation ended successfully. The pilot has been taken to our base safe and sound,” Shoigu said.
He said the rescue operation lasted for 12 hours.
“I’d like to thank all our men who were working all night long taking great risks,” Shoigu said.
The second pilot has been rescued, the Russian president said.
“He has been rescued. This is the pilot navigator. He is already at the air base, at the aerodrome,” Putin said.
“He, like all the other participants in the rescue operation, will receive state awards. The Defense Ministry has already come up with this proposal,” Putin said.
The crew of the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber that was shot down in Syria will receive state awards, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
The bomber’s commander will get the Hero of Russia title posthumously, the president said.
The Su-24 was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet on Tuesday morning. Ankara claims the Russian warplane had violated Turkey’s air space while the Russian Defense Ministry says the Su-24 was flying above Syria. Both pilots ejected but one of them was killed by gunfire from the ground.
