Moscow Sep 18 (IANS) A Russian aircraft with 14 servicemen on board went off radar near the Hmeymim Airbase in Syria the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement here on Tuesday.
"On Monday at about 11 p.m. the communication with the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft was lost when it was over the Mediterranean Sea some 35 km from the Syrian coast on its way back to the airbase " Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.
The airbase has launched a search and rescue operation it added.

--IANS ksk