Radar map of the incident:

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The Turkish Air Force shot down a Syrian helicopter on Sept. 16 at the border after the helicopter violated Turkish airspace, Deputy Prime Minister Blent Arn said.

Turkish military aircraft taking off from a base in Malatya shot the M-17 helicopter after it allegedly continued to violate Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings, after which the chopper fell onto Syrian soil, Arn said.

It [The helicopter] violated Turkeys border for two kilometers. It was repeatedly warned by air defense elements. Upon the continuation of the violation, it was determined that it fell into Syrian territory after being shot at 2.25 p.m. with a missile by our planes taking off from Malatya, Arn said.

The deputy prime minister said the initiative taken by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to shoot down the Syrian helicopter was based on the rules of engagement with Syria.

Two pilots reportedly ejected from the aircraft before the explosion, but there is no further concrete information as yet.

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) also released an official statment after Arn's remarks, confirming that Turkish jets had shot down the Syrian helilopter after it violated Turkish airspace.

The Syrian helicopter was followed and repeatedly warned by the Combined Control and Reporting Center (BKM) in Diyarbakr after being detected 26 nautical miles from Turkish airspace at 1.41 p.m. on Sept. 16, the statement said. The helicopter then violated Turkish airspace, encroaching two kilometers (1.2 miles) into in Hatay's Yaylada district while flying at around 14,200 feet, and landed on Syrian soil after being shot by two Turkish F-16 jets at 2.27 p.m., the TSK statement added.

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