Moscow Feb 4 (IANS) A Russian pilot has been killed after his plane was shot down by militants in Syrian province of Idlib the Russian Defence Ministry has said.
"A Russian Su-25 aircraft crashed during a flight over the Idlib de-escalation area " the ministry said in the statement on Saturday Xinhua news agency reported.
"The pilot died in a fight with the terrorists " the statement said adding that preliminary information showed that the plane was downed by use of a man-portable anti-aircraft missile system.
"The Russian center for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria and the Turkish side overseeing the Idlib de-escalation area are working to bring the Russian pilot s body home " it said.
The pilot had reported earlier that he ejected by parachute in the area controlled by Nusra Front militants.
--IANS
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