Jordanian pilot captured by IS after warplane crashed in Syria

The Islamic State militants have captured a Jordanian pilot, holding him hostage, after his warplane crashed in Syria while bombing the Islamic State targets. Jordan’s F-16 warplane crashed in Syria during a Jordanian air strike on the locations of the Islamic State militants.

Jordan is one among those nations part of the US-led ally, aiming at destroying ISIS. This is the first US-led coalition warplane that has crashed and the pilot captivated by the militants.

F-16 warplane belonged to the Royal Jordanian Armed Force and crashed over the Raqqa province in Syria, an official source in the Jordan Armed Forces announced on Wednesday.

Jordan’s state news agency Petra reported that as per the source, the incident occurred when a number of Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets were targeting certain positions of the terrorist organization in Raqqa.

Petra news report further quoted the source as saying, “It is well known that this organization does not hide its terrorist agenda and has committed criminal acts and killed innocent Muslims and non-Muslims in Syria and Iraq. Therefore, Jordan holds this group and whoever supports it responsible for the safety and life of the pilot.”

According to a Reuters report, Jordan’s government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani told satellite TV station Al Hadath the jet fighter “was shot at from the ground by rocket missiles and was brought down” and that an attempt to rescue the pilot before he was captured failed.

He later told Reuters that new assessments showed there was no indication the plane had been shot at by the militants. The US investigations also revealed the same. Turning down the Islamic States claim that the warplane was shot down by their heat-seeking missile, a statement from the US said evidence clearly indicates that this isn’t true. The US could not tell as to what led the place to crash.

The Islamic State on the other hand, published photographs which showed the pilot captured by the militants. They later uploaded a photo of what they said was his Jordanian Military ID card.

The Jordanian army has separately confirmed his name and his father has appealed the militants to show mercy on his son and free him.

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About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash