Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

Jordanian F-16 Down in Syria

December 24, 2014
Scott Wolff 3 Comments News

Initial reports are ISIS has claimed the downing of it’s first coalition aircraft, a Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) F-16AM. The government of Jordan is confirming the loss of the aircraft, and as photos indicate, the pilot has been captured. Certainly not good news for the pilot and the Jordanians, who are especially skittish about their involvement in Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing campaign aimed at defeating ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

ISIS is known to have a stockpile of the Russian-made SA-18 Grouse, a third-generation MANPADS–or man-portable air defense system. The shoulder-fired weapon has long been in the Syrian government arsenal and an unknown number of them have fallen into the wrong hands.

Even so, U.S. officials are refuting the claim the aircraft was downed by hostile fire.

“We will support efforts to ensure (the pilot’s) safe recovery, and will not tolerate ISIL’s attempts to misrepresent or exploit this unfortunate aircraft crash for their own purposes,”  said CENTCOM commander General Lloyd J. Austin III, who is overseeing all coalition military operations in Iraq and Syria.

Jordanian F-16 Pilot 2

ISIS militants taking custody of a Jordanian F-16 pilot after his aircraft went down near the city of Raqqa in northern Syria.

“Jordan holds the group and its supporters responsible for the safety of the pilot and his life,” says a Jordanian military official.

The downed pilot’s father made a plea to ISIS and is quoted as saying,  “May Allah plant mercy in your hearts and may you release my son.”

Stay tuned to FighterSweep for updates as they become available.

(Featured Photograph courtesy of Twitter)

 

 

About the Author

Scott Wolff is an accomplished writer and renowned aviation photojournalist. He has held the position of Managing Editor for a print flying lifestyle magazine, and is the Host and Editor for FighterSweep. Scott's area of expertise is military flight operations, drawing on ten years of experience working extensively with all branches of the armed forces. He holds an FAA pilot certificate, the culmination of a life-long passion for flying airplanes. Scott has received military altitude chamber training, emergency egress training, and has logged time in a variety of civilian and military aircraft. He is also a member of the International Society of Aviation Photographers and Nikon Professional Services.

Related Posts

  • Belgium: Airstrikes Against Daesh To ResumeBelgium: Airstrikes Against Daesh To Resume
  • Airpower Victory Over Daesh Currently Impossible?Airpower Victory Over Daesh Currently Impossible?
  • Amended ROE Expands Air War Against DaeshAmended ROE Expands Air War Against Daesh
  • B-52s Arrive In Qatar To Support Inherent ResolveB-52s Arrive In Qatar To Support Inherent Resolve
  • Is the US in danger of running out of bombs?Is the US in danger of running out of bombs?

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • March 23, 2019

    Rest Easy: Ranger assigned to secretive reconnaissance unit dies in free-fall accident

  • blue-angels-reporter-blacks-out-passes-out
    December 5, 2017

    Watch: News Reporter Blacks Out on Ride with US Navy Blue Angels

  • Whistling Death: How The Corsair Got Its Nickname
    August 30, 2019

    Whistling Death: How the Corsair got its nickname

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • pak152 " the team came up with what the Brits dubbed as Mustang, powered by a [...]
  • P K Polish AF never has and never will operate Su-27, An-26 aircraft has been out [...]
  • bnarfhyde The best book is also great. have a [...]
  • TerrorTrike ive never survived this long with such a clumsy FL- cG.866B.CO/NC6155hc
  • D4rksupeme yessss truck kunnnnnnnn i needddd you m.866E.CO/vC6155H

© Copyright 2023 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...