(Image Source: Al Jazeera )

 

BY LOGAN TITTLE

 

A Syrian fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a northern Jordanian air base. KGTV has more.

 

“The jet landed at the King Hussein airbase near the Syrian border. The pilot is reportedly seeking political asylum.”

 

MSNBC—

“Syrian activists say the pilot...defected. Syrian state TV says communication with the pilot was lost earlier this morning during a training exercise.”

 

The Daily Mail reports this follows the defection of thousands of soldiers in the Syrian army—and the Guardian says its only making matters worse.

 

“The defection seems set to increase tensions between Syria and Jordan, which Damascus has accused of funnelling weapons to rebel groups that it brands as terrorists. Jordan's monarch, King Abdullah, has twice questioned Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's legitimacy as leader...”

 

Al Jazeera says having Syrian planes—let alone defectors—on Jordanian soil causes serious concern.

 

“It is a fairly advanced warplane and now it is a liability for the Jordanian authorities...authorities have decided to keep them in a secluded military base. They do not want them to interact with the other refugees because this poses a threat for Jordan which has dramatically beefed up its border security.”

 

Zee News says this is the first defection involving an aircraft since the beginning of the uprising.