Update (10/11/2015 3:22 pm EDT): Hugh Hewitt: “Turkey, a NATO ally shot down a Russian jet this morning. We have no idea what this world’s going to be like in a year. Yesterday a Russian jet was set down in Turkey. Yesterday almost 100 people were killed in Ankara, Turkey. The world is on fire!” (NBC News) 

Update (10/11/2015 1:21 am EDT): Turkey increased border patrol with 14 F-16’s on Thursday just prior to when jet was allegedly shot down.

Update (10/11/2015 12:33 am EDT): Report that two F-16’s targeted power grid in Aleppo. Other exposions heard from the South in Samandag, Turkey @7pm Turkish time. Any relation to these events are unclear.
Update (10/10/2015 11:15 pm EDT):  Our sources in Turkey have informed us that there has been no mention of this incident by the local media or the Turkish government. War Monitor will however, continue to monitor this potentially breaking news, and will report back any new information pertaining to this event should confirmation become available. Until such time, this story remains unconfirmed but not necessarily moot at this point.

Original Story

Twitter has exploded with Rumors that a Russian jet of unknown design has been shot down by Turkish anti-aircraft weapons. The reports follow earlier tweets about a night-sky explosion having been seen in the skies above Northern Syria. The plane reportedly crashed near Aleppo, which is located less than 30 miles from Turkey’s border. This reported incident has not yet been confirmed by officials, but was still quick to spread among several alternative news websites. A reliable source said that when Russian and Turkish officials were asked if the event took place, they “refused to comment” instead of merely stating that it was untrue.

Source: “Russia and Turkey refused to comment on report that Mig-29 downed by Turkish Forces.”

The rumors immediately sparked concern and fears that Turkey, a member of NATO, may be targeted by Russian forces in retaliation of the event, possibly triggering Article 5 of the treaty and leading NATO to declare war on the Russian Federation. At least one of the reports came from a Journalist, Yasser Alhaji, who is located near where the crash allegedly took place.

Unconfirmed report Russian jet is down by Turkish after interning Turkish airspace.

— yasser alhaji (@yasseralhaji1) October 9, 2015

Last weekend, two Russian planes had entered Turkish airspace with one of them acquiring a missile lock on one of Turkey’s American made F-16 fighters. The pilot maintained the missile lock for a total of 5 minutes and 40 seconds before the plane retreated back into Syrian airspace. Russia called the incident an accident due to weather, despite clear skies being reported by NOAA when the incident took place. This triggered a strong response from NATO, who is now mulling over the possibility of stationing troops in Turkey. Turkey has said that their rules of engagement are clear, and that any planes, including Russian, will be fired upon after entering their airspace. Turkey has a history of shooting down Syrian aircraft inadvertently crossing their borders, but this would make for the first time that a Russian plane should be fired upon.

#Aleppo suburbs: Ammar just witnessed a huge explosion in the night sky, hppnd while 3 fighter jets wr hovering up https://t.co/Vbr1CXRBQA — The 47th (@THE_47th) October 9, 2015

 

Interestingly, Turkish Air Force F-16s are responding to mysterious Mig-29’s lock ons on the border with radar lock ons.

— David Cenciotti (@cencio4) October 9, 2015

If these reports hold true, it would likely be the largest escalation between Russia and the West since the bombing in Syria began. This story may be updated if more related information should come available.

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