Russia’s Su-24 warplane was downed by an air-to-air missile launched from a Turkish F-16 fighter jet when it was at an altitude of 6,000 meters at a distance of one kilometer from the Turkish border.
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Turkey said the Russian jet was shot down after ignoring repeated warnings for penetrating into Turkish airspace.
Erdogan said that the incident early on Tuesday showed “what kind of consequences careless steps could have”.
Speaking about the fact that Russia recommended tourists to refrain from going to Turkey, he said that it’s a warning guided primarily by the concerns of Russian citizens. One of them turned back but the other jet continued to cruise toward Turkish airspace despite multiple warnings, violating Turkish airspace for 17 seconds.
The Turkish strongman denied Russian accusations that Ankara was collaborating with IS, saying his country’s fight against the jihadists was undisputed.
Russia said the pilot was rescued from rebel-held territory in north-eastern Syria in a 12-hour operation involving Russian and Syrian special forces.
Reports also say 18 fighter jets were sent on a patrol exercise near the border.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian TV on Wednesday that Russia has “serious doubts” that Turkey’s downing of its warplane Tuesday was “an unpremeditated act”.
Turkey said the jet had encroached on Turkish air space and was warned repeatedly to change course, but Russian officials have said the plane was at no time over Turkey.
The US, EU and the United Nations have all appealed for calm.
“We do not want to escalate tensions with Russia”, Cavusoglu said, adding that Russia and Turkey have significant political and economic relations.
The clash between Russian and Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member, threatens to draw global powers into the conflict. The alliance has backed Turkey’s version of events, although it, too, is calling for “diplomacy and de-escalation” to resolve the situation.
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Altogether, the Treasury took action against four individuals and six entities for their support for the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime’s continuing violence against the Syrian population.
