DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s plane has reportedly disappeared from radar while en route to Russia, leading to conflicting reports about a possible crash and his possible death.
According to foreign media, Bashar al-Assad departed Damascus on Sunday morning aboard Syrian Air Force Flight 9218 as rebel forces advanced on the Syrian capital. The flight was last tracked before disappearing from radar, heading towards the Syrian coast.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali told Arab TV in an interview that his last conversation with Bashar al-Assad took place on Saturday night. “When I told him about the deteriorating situation, he said we would discuss it further the next morning,” al-Jalali revealed.
Reports indicate that Assad was traveling on an IL-76 aircraft (registration YK-ATA). Flightradar24 data shows the plane initially flew towards the Syrian-Iraqi border before suddenly turning towards the Mediterranean Sea. The plane descended rapidly from an altitude of 8,725 feet, its speed dropping from 819 kilometers per hour to 64 kilometers per hour.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the plane may have crashed, but this has not been officially confirmed. Details about the plane’s destination and Al-Assad’s status are still unclear.
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