Turkey released an audio recording on Wednesday of what it says are the warnings given to a Russian plane before Turkish F-16s shot it down for allegedly straying into Turkey's airspace.
The BBC reported that the audio, released by the Turkish military, records a voice speaking in English and saying, "Change your heading south immediately." Turkish military claimed that the pilots of the Russian jet ignored 10 warnings in five minutes before its fighters shot down the plane.
The Russian Su-24 jet's two pilots ejected and one was shot and killed by Syrian rebels. The second pilot, identified as Captain Konstantin Murkahtin, was rescued by Russian and Syrian forces. In his first interview after being rescued, Murkahtin rejected the Turkish claims that warnings were given and denied that the Russian jet entered Turkish airspace. He said that the plane remained in Syrian airspace for the duration of its flight.
The recording appears to cast doubt on Murkahtin's version of events and further escalate the war of word between the two countries. The incident sparked a furious response from Moscow, with Russian President Vladimir Putin describing it as " a stab in our backs from accomplices of terrorism."
Putin said on Wednesday that an advanced air defense system would be sent to Russia's Khmeimim air base in Latakia, northwestern Syria, in order to ensure the safety of Russian air missions over the country . Putin also took aim at the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , claiming it was "pursuing a deliberate policy of supporting the Islamization of their country ."
Ankara has so far defended itself over the incident, insisting that it was defending its territorial rights. Turkey has received backing from the U.S. and NATO.
A Russian marine also died during initial attempts to rescue the jet's pilots and small arms fire also destroyed one of two Mi-8 helicopters used in the rescue mission, a Russian military spokesman said.
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Conor is a staff writer for Newsweek covering Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, security and conflict.
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