Turkish pilots who downed a Russian jet that violated Turkish airspace near Syrian border last year are claimed to be arrested over their link with recent failed coup plot, according to local media report.
“Two Turkish pilots who shot down a Russian Su-24 near the Syrian border were taken into custody,” local media cited a senior official as saying.
The downing incident caused a diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Moscow that spread to economic, business, trade, and other bilateral relations.
It said that at least one of the pilots is claimed to have taken part in the coup attempt that killed more than 200 people, mostly civilians, and injured nearly 1500 others.
But Turkish Justice Ministry Bekir Bozdağ did not confirmed the detention of the pilots.
“We heard news about the two pilots' detainment, but the issue needs to be confirmed,” Bozdağ said while asked about the reports.
More than 7500 people, mostly soldiers with different ranks, were arrested so far for their links with the failed coup attempt.
