Russian military helicopters search for pilots of downed jet

Russian military helicopters were searching for the pilots from a warplane downed near the Syrian border on Tuesday, Turkey's Dogan news agency reported.

Turkish fighter jets shot down the Russian-made jet near the Syrian border after repeatedly warning it over air space violations, Turkish officials said, but Moscow said it could prove the jet had not left Syrian air space.

One of the pilots of the warplane shot down by Turkish jets near the Syrian border on Tuesday was in the hands of Turkmen forces in Syria who were searching for the other pilot, broadcaster CNN Turk reported, citing local sources.

Turkey shot down a warplane near the Syrian border after it violated Turkey's airspace on Tuesday, Turkish presidential sources said.