L-39 planes of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Air Force at an aerodrome 50 km of Palmyra
© Sputnik/ Mikhail VoskresenskiyL-39 planes of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Air Force at an aerodrome 50 km of Palmyra
Armed rebel groups holding quarters in the Eastern part of Aleppo have shot down a Syrian Armed Forces aircraft killing the crew, according to the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen news channel.

Al Mayadeen reports that the incident took place not far from the Aleppo airport territory.

The militants shot down the L-39 Albatros — two-seat single-engine trainer — which was produced by Czech Aero Vodochody company until 1996, the Baladi News portal reported.

It is reported that the body of one of the pilots, Syrian Airforce colonel Jafar Hasan, has been found already. The search for the second pilot's body is currently underway.

Syrian Armed Forces officials have not commented on the incident so far.

Syrian government forces have been fighting against extremist groups in Eastern Aleppo for several months. In November, government troops liberated almost half of the area after a large-scale offensive.

On November 30, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura stated that opposition forces in Syria have lost some 40 percent of the territory they once controlled.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW