土耳其击落俄罗斯飞机 两国关系紧张

An investigation into the incident is still underway.

According to Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti, one of the two pilots was killed in the air by fire from the ground.

Meanwhile, a Russian marine was also killed during an operation to rescue the two pilots.

The other pilot who went missing after his jet was shot down was said to be rescued by the Syrian army and taken back to a Russian base, but the Russian authorities haven't confirmed that as yet.

Turkey and Russia exchanged bellicose language after the downing of the plane. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned Turkey that the incident would lead to possible economic losses on the Turkish side, adding that this damage will be difficult to repair.

The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the incident was a "deliberate action."

But it would not affect Russian efforts to push for a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Earlier, Russian President Vladmir Putin branded the shooting as a "stab in the back committed by accomplices of terrorists," and warned of "serious consequences for Russia-Turkey relations."

"We, of course, will analyse in the detail everything that has happened. And today's tragic event will have significant consequences for relations between Russia and Turkey, too. I understand that every state has its own regional interests and we have always respected that. We will never tolerate such atrocities as happened today."

The Turkish view the incident from a different perspective. Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan defended Turkey's actions as self-defense.

"We are feeling distressed for encountering such an incident. But the actions were fully in line with Turkey's rules of engagement that have been declared before. Turkey does not harbour enmity towards its neighbours."

Though Russia and Turkey have traded angry words before over alleged incursions by Russian fighters into Turkish airspace during forays over Syria, this is the first time Turkey has shot down any Russian planes since Moscow started airstrikes in September.

In the meantime, the incident has sparked concern in the West that it could escalate into clashes between Russian and other members of the US-led coalition, which include Turkey, during their so far separate campaigns to target jihadists in Syria.

Of greater concern, the incident also risks derailing efforts to bring peace to Syria, that were gaining tentative momentum following the November 13 Paris terror attacks.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.