Syrian Fighter Jet Lands In Jordan, Pilot Reportedly Seeks Asylum
Posted: June 21, 2012
Share
TweetA Jordanian official says the pilot wants to defect. The Syrian government is only confirming it lost contact with the aircraft. Activists say this would be the first such action by a Syrian military pilot since anti-Assad protests began in 2011.
"A Syrian MiG 21 fighter jet has landed in Jordan," al-Jazeera and other news outlets report. And according to Reuters, a Jordanian official says the pilot has asked for asylum. The BBC is reporting that news as well.
If that's correct, al-Jazeera adds, Syrian activists say it would be the first defection involving an aircraft since protests against the regime of President Bashar Assad began in March 2011.
The Syrian government is only saying at this point that it lost contact with the fighter earlier today.
Update at 12:15 p.m. ET. Syria Wants Its Jet Back:
According to the BBC, "Syria has [now] condemned the pilot as a traitor, and has asked the Jordanian government for the return of its plane."
9(MDAxODM1NzQ4MDEyMTY5MTAwMDcyNjIyOQ004))
Tags
The Two-Way
Leave a Comment
Please follow our community discussion rules when composing your comments.
News Headlines all headlines
Northeast Ohio Headlines
- Proposed Bill Allows Rape Victims to Press Charges More Than 20 Years Later Democratic State Senator Nina Turner wants to wipe out the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape crimes.
- Republican Lawmaker Proposes New Medicaid Expansion Plan Rep. Barbara Sears' plan includes job training and drug abuse treatment for eligible Medicaid recipients.
Pursuing The Perfect Chase Scene At Playhouse Square Filming of the Captain America movie featured a chase scene outside ideastream's offices!
Mourners Displeased With Condition Of Loved One’s Final Resting Place Can File Complaints A state commission addresses grievances over poorly-maintained cemeteries.- Statehouse Democrats Demand More Information from JobsOhio As they prepare for next year’s statewide campaigns, Democrats continue to hammer away at Gov. Kasich’s key accomplishment in office so far.
NPR Headlines
Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0 Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have made names for themselves with experimental food installations.- Missouri Train Collision Injures 7, Collapses Overpass Authorities said a Union Pacific train t-boned a Burlington Northern train.
One Hit Wonder? Another Anibal Sanchez No-Hit Bid Spoiled Sanchez has been here before. This is the fourth one-hitter of his career.
'We Need Help Bad': 911 Calls Reveal Chaos In Tornado's Wake The calls are harrowing and they offer a glimmer of the chaos and emotion that followed the storm.
'Las Caras Lindas': To Be Black And Puerto Rican In 2013 The complex identities navigated by black Puerto Ricans play out in the music of two artists.
Help Us Tell the Story
Connect with ideastream More
Idea Center® at PlayhouseSquare
1375 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
44115-1835
Directions
Have a Question?
216-916-6301
Send a Message
Main
216-916-6100
Toll-Free
877-399-3307
ideastream® is a not-for-profit multiple-media public service organization serving the communities of Northeast Ohio and based in Cleveland, Ohio. The mission of ideasteam is to strengthen our communities.
© 2013 ideastream.