Turkey shot down Russian Su-24M fighter jet on November 24, 2015

On November 24, 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24M fighter jet over the Syrian-Turkish border. Turkey stated that the aircraft had entered Turkish airspace by approximately 1.3 miles (2 km), while Russia claimed the jet was downed within Syrian airspace.

The crew of the warplane included a pilot and a navigator. After ejecting, they were fired upon by Turkoman Syrian rebels, who were reportedly armed by Turkey. The navigator was rescued, but the pilot, Oleg Peshkov, was killed during his descent, an act considered a war crime under the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.

During the rescue operation for the navigator, a Russian marine was also killed when the helicopter he was in came under fire.

In response to the incident, Russia implemented several retaliatory measures, including ending visa-free travel for Turkish citizens, imposing restrictions on Turkish businesses, and discouraging Russian travel agencies from promoting Turkish resorts. Additionally, Russia launched a significant air campaign against Syrian rebels, targeting ISIS convoys and aiding the Syrian Arab Army"s efforts in Aleppo.

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On June 29, 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin to apologize for the incident. Following this, Russia began to gradually lift the trade and travel restrictions imposed on Turkey. Subsequently, Turkey and Russia initiated the Astana Peace Talks regarding the situation in Syria.

In the aftermath of the incident, Turkey negotiated a deal for Russia"s S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

Current tensions in Eastern Europe suggest that a similar incident today, involving a Baltic state shooting down a Russian aircraft, could lead to severe consequences, potentially escalating into conflict.