Putin to Turkey: Downing Jet Was 'Stab in Back'

He promises 'serious consequences' over the move
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2015 8:55 AM CST
Putin to Turkey: Downing Jet Was 'Stab in Back'
Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday.   (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)

Vladimir Putin wasted no time in labeling Turkish military officials "accomplices of terrorists" in a statement condemning the downing of a Russian plane Tuesday. Russia's president says the country suffered a "stab in the back" when Turkish F-16s fired air-to-air missiles at the Su-24, which Putin says was 2.5 miles deep into Syrian territory, per the BBC and Daily Express. He adds there will be "serious consequences." Turkey, however, says the plane was in Turkish airspace and was given 10 warnings in five minutes. Two pilots parachuted from the aircraft, but there are unconfirmed reports that rebels killed both, per the Guardian. Rebels may have also brought down a rescue helicopter. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)

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