The Syrian Ministry of Defense said that the pilot who defected with a MiG-21 aircraft on Thursday was a deserter and traitor.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense said that the pilot who defected with a MiG-21 aircraft on Thursday was a deserter and traitor.

In a statement issued by the ministry Syria said the pilot “is a deserter and a traitor to his country and military honor, and will be punished accordingly.”

Acording to state news agency, SANA, the ministry said that at 10: 34 a.m. on Thursday, communication was lost with a MiG-21 aircraft flown by the pilot Colonel Hassan Mirei al-Hamada during a usual training flight.

“The aircraft was last detected over the Syrian southern borders before communication was lost with it,” the ministry said, adding that the warplane left the Syrian airspace and landed in Jordan.

Following the Syrian declaration, a Jordanian government official said a Syrian fighter jet made an emergency landing Thursday at a northern Jordanian airbase.
“The pilot asked for political asylum in Jordan,” Jordanian Information Minister and government spokesman Samih Maayatah told AFP.

In its statement, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that contacts with the Jordanian sides are underway to restore the aircraft.