The flight was last tracked heading towards the coastal regions of Syria before disappearing from radar.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s aircraft disappears mid-flight, crash speculated. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s plane reportedly vanished from radar while en route to Russia, leading to conflicting reports about a potential crash and his possible death.
According to foreign media, Bashar al-Assad left Damascus early Sunday morning aboard Syrian Air Flight 9218 as rebel forces advanced towards the Syrian capital. The flight was last tracked heading towards the coastal regions of Syria before disappearing from radar.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali stated in an interview with Arab TV that his last communication with Bashar al-Assad occurred on Saturday night. “When I informed him about the worsening situation, he said we would discuss it further the next morning,” Al-Jallali revealed.
Reports suggest al-Assad was traveling on an IL-76 aircraft (registration YK-ATA). Flightradar24 data shows the plane initially flew towards the Syrian-Iraqi border before diverting abruptly towards the Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft descended rapidly from an altitude of 8,725 feet, with its speed reducing drastically from 819 km/h to 64 km/h before vanishing.
Unconfirmed reports indicate the plane may have crashed, but no official confirmation has been provided. Details about the aircraft’s destination and al-Assad’s status remain unclear.
Who is Bashar al-Assad?
Bashar al-Assad became president in 2000 and he continued his authoritarian rule, with violence, and controversies. He is son of Hafez al-Assad, who took power in 1970 after a military coup and ruled the Arab nation for nearly 30 years.
Assad grew up in shadow of his father’s autocratic regime, which elevated the Alawite minority to key political, military, and social positions. Bashar Assad studied medicine in London but things changed after tragic death of his brother in a car crash,
After his father’s demise in 2000, Bashar was elected president in an unopposed election with tweak in constitution for presidential age limit. The leader known for progressive thoughts was named to modernize the country.
