[–] DickHertz 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The crash site was 4km outside of Turkey. If they detected the missile and went to full speed that's like twelve seconds away so that hardly proves that they were shot down by a plane already in in Syria. Last time they overflew Turkey the Russians claimed it was accidentally caused by bad weather as if we are supposed to believe Russian bombers are incapable of navigation in bad weather. Come on.
[–] Somali ago (edited ago)
The border is only clearly outlined on a map. In the real world the border between Syria and Turkey in that part is an invisible line going through forests and mountains. It's entirely possible to slightly go into their airspace in bad weather if you're bombing a group right on the border, and Russia did acknowledge and apologize for it then. And again, in that case you send an escort/contact the plane since it's obvious as hell it's not targeting anything in Turkey and Turkey itself violates sovereign airspace all the fucking time.
Edrogan also went out of his way to state that the bomber was attacking their "brother and sister" Turkmen, so it's pretty obvious that Turkey was acting as their air force in this case.
Russians were dumb for sending in the bomber unsupported by fighter jets given Turkey's prior threats but at least now their air defense systems will be covering every bomber that goes through there.
[–] DickHertz 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The weather wasn't bad enough to keep them from hitting their targets though. When has Turkey sent armed bombers into other country's airspace? All the time? Russians were dumb to be bombing an area close enough to Turkey that they can't manage to stay out of their airspace reliably. They aren't owed a free pass by any means.
I have a feeling that if they continue to overfly Turkey and shoot down a Turkish plane in their own airspace shit will get serious. Like sea skimming missile serious.