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Turkish pilots downing Russian jet in custody for involvement in coup bid

Xinhua, July 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Two Turkish pilots involved in the downing of a Russian jet last November are in custody over the July 15 failed coup in Turkey, an official told media on late Monday, Dogan News Agency reported.

"Two pilots who were part of the operation to down the Russian Su-24 in November 2015 are in custody," a Turkish official told journalists, adding that they were detained of been part of coup bid.

The downing of the Russian fighter jet on the Syrian border sparked an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Russia, which ended last month when the two countries agreed to restore ties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called his Turkish President Recep Erdogan on July 17, describing the attempted coup as unacceptable and voicing hope for a speedy return to stability.

The two presidents are expected to meet in the first week of August, in their first face-to-face meeting since the rapprochement.

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told press on Monday over 7,500 people have been detained over the failed coup, including 103 generals and admirals. Endit