One of the two Russian pilots, who ejected from a SU-24 jet after Turkey shot it down for violating its airspace Tuesday, has survived and is now with the Syrian army, Russian ambassador to France said Wednesday.
"According to our latest information, one of our pilots managed to escape and was picked up by the Syrian army," Ambassador Alexander Orlov told Europe1 radio.
Orlov added that the survivor would be taken to the Russian Air Force base.
About the fate of the other pilot, the ambassador said that he was killed allegedly by forces in the area.
The Russian Sukhoi SU-24 was shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter jets Tuesday in line with Turkey's standard rules of engagement, according to the Turkish military, which added that the Russian plane was repeatedly warned that it was violating Turkish airspace before it was fired upon.
According to footage from the scene, the plane's two pilots could be seen ejecting safely before the aircraft hit the ground in a huge of plume of smoke.
