Turkish fighter jets force Syrian passenger plane to land

Turkey has used two of its fighter jets to force a Syrian passenger plane to land in Ankara. The plane was on its way from Moscow to Damascus and was suspected of carrying weapons.

After a full search the Airbus320 was allowed to leave but not until several military communication devices were removed by Turkish security forces. Turkey are on heightened security since Syrian troops fired mortars into Turkey last week killing five people.

Turkey say that they will take measures to ensure that no weapons will be imported to Syria via Turkish airspace. Concerns were raised over the Moscow to Damascus flight, which was carrying just 35 passengers. Turkey believed that flight was carrying "non civilian cargo" and so scrambled its fighter jets to force a landing in Turkey. The plane landed at Ankara's Esenboga airport where it underwent security checks.

The Turkish government hope to assure their people that they are taking the threat of more attacks from Syria seriously and taking all measures possible to stop any such attack. They believe that Syria might attack any Turkish plane flying in Syrian airspace and are now preventing Turkish planes from flying over Syria.

Sources and more on this story:

Daily Star (Lebanon)

RTE News

BBC News