Syria said on Thursday, Oct 11, a Damascus-bound plane forced to land in Ankara by Turkish fighter jets while en route from Moscow had been carrying legitimate cargo, according to Reuters.

"The plane was not carrying any illegal material," Ghaida Abdulatif, head of Syrian Arab Airlines, told reporters in Damascus. "When the plane was inspected it was clear that there were ... civilian packages with electrical equipment which are allowed to be transported and had been officially registered."

Meanwhile, Syria's transport minister accused Turkey of "air piracy."

Lebanon's al-Manar Television quoted minister Mahmoud Said as saying the move amounted to "air piracy which contradicts civil aviation treaties."

Turkish officials said they suspected the plane was carrying military equipment, and seized some of the cargo.