A Russian-built MiG-23 fighter jet belonging to the Syrian Air Force has crashed near the Iraq border amidst claims it was shot down by the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
State media has refuted the claims made by the FSA, alleging that the aircraft crashed due to technical problems, forcing the pilot to eject. A search for the pilot is currently under way.
Syria state-run news agency Sana has said that the aircraft had been conducting a routine training mission before it encountered a fault with its control mechanisms. The FSA has countered the official account, claiming one pilot to have died in the crash whilst the other has been captured.
