Turkish deputy PM says downed jet not a warplane: TV

ANKARA - Reuters

AA photo

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said today a jet that was shot down by Syria a day earlier was not a warplane but a reconnaissance aircraft, state television TRT reported.
 
It was not immediately clear where Arinc, who is one of four deputy prime ministers and also the government's spokesman, was speaking. Turkish media reported the downed jet was an F-4 Phantom, a supersonic jet fighter which can also carry out reconnaissance operations.

Turkish FM in talks with military after jet downed

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a meeting with commanders from Turkey's military and the head of the intelligence service to discuss what steps Turkey would take after Syria shot down one of its military aircraft, media reported.

The meeting lasted two hours and was attended by the military's deputy chief of staff, senior military commanders and the head of the National Intelligence Agency, who also discussed the search operation for the missing pilots, media reported citing the Foreign Ministry.

They gave no further details.