2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown — shootdown of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber aircraft by Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets
The first destruction of a Russian or Soviet warplane by a NATO member since 1953, severely straining Russia–Turkey relations.
Key Facts
- Date of incident
- 24 November 2015
- Alleged airspace violation depth
- 2.19 km for approximately 17 seconds
- Warnings issued
- 10 warnings over 5 minutes
- Russian pilot status
- Oleg Peshkov killed by rebel ground fire while parachuting
- Russian navigator status
- Konstantin Murakhtin rescued
- Additional Russian casualty
- 1 marine killed during rescue helicopter operation
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A Russian Sukhoi Su-24M attack aircraft was conducting operations near the Syria–Turkey border. Turkey alleged the aircraft violated its airspace to a depth of 2.19 kilometres for about 17 seconds after receiving ten warnings over five minutes to change course. Russia denied the aircraft ever left Syrian airspace, asserting satellite data placed it 1,000 metres inside Syria.
On 24 November 2015, a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down the Russian Su-24M near the Syria–Turkey border. Both crew members ejected; pilot Oleg Peshkov was killed by Syrian rebel ground fire while descending by parachute, and a Russian marine was killed when rebels targeted the search and rescue helicopter. Navigator Konstantin Murakhtin was rescued.
Russia deployed the guided missile cruiser Moskva and S-400 SAM systems to Syria and imposed economic measures against Turkey. Turkey deployed the KORAL electronic support system along the Syrian border. The incident was the first loss of a Russian or Soviet military aircraft to a NATO member since 1953 and triggered a prolonged diplomatic crisis between Moscow and Ankara.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Side B
1 belligerent
Vladimir Putin.