Putin says second pilot rescued, now safe

Russian President Vladimir Putin. AP FILE PHOTO

ANKARA, Turkey – Russian President Vladimir Putin says a second pilot from a Russian warplane that was shot down by Turkey near the Syrian border has been rescued.

Putin was speaking in televised comments on Wednesday after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian news agencies that the man was rescued in a 12-hour operation which ended in the early hours on Wednesday and is now “safe and sound” at Russia’s air base in the government-controlled area in Syria.

The other pilot of the Su-24 jet was reported dead.