Body of downed Su-24 pilot back to Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The body of a Russian pilot who died after his warplane was shot down along the Turkey-Syria border has been flown back to Russia, according to Russia's Ministry of Defense, CNN reports.

Col. Oleg Peshkov's body arrived Monday, November 30, at the Chkalovsky military airport near Moscow, according to a statement from the ministry.

Russia's state-run Sputnik news agency reported that Peshkov's body was met by Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu and Russian air force Commander-in-Chief Victor Bondarev.

Peshkov will be buried in Lipetsk, Russia, as requested by his family, Sputnik reported.

Russia and Turkey have been at odds since Turkey shot down Peshkov's jet near the Turkey-Syria border Tuesday, saying it had violated Turkish airspace. Russia has denied that claim.

The countries disagree sharply on whether the Russian plane was in Turkish airspace when it was shot down, as well as whether any warnings went out to the crew.

Tensions rise as Russia says it's deploying anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.

Russia claims that its planes were bombing ISIS militants in the area, though Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that only Turkmen -- "our brothers and sisters" -- were in that region of Syria.