Alleged Killer of Russian Su-24 Pilot Detained in Turkey

According to Dogan News Agency, the alleged killer of the pilot of the downed Russian Su-24 flight has been detained in Turkey.  The man, who is believed to be responsible for the Russian pilot's death, is identified as Alparslan Chelik.

​According to Hurriyet newspaper, Chelik was detained Wednesday evening in Izmir. Alparslan Chelik has reportedly been fighting against the government forces in Syria.



No official explanation for his arrest has been circulated yet, but Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that Moscow will study the reports on Celik's arrest and closely follow the developments.


The Russian Su-24 was shot down by a Turkish F-16 jet over Syria on November 24, falling 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Turkish border. The crew of the plane ejected and one pilot was killed by fire from the ground, according to the Russian General Staff. The co-pilot survived.
Su-24 pilot Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov killed by fire from the ground after ejecting from a Russian Su-24 jet downed by Turkey over Syria was posthumously awarded with a Gold Star medal, Russia's highest honorary title.