Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Jordanian Pilot Captured By Islamic State Militants

Jordan's military says one of its pilots has been captured by militants of the Islamic State after his plane crashed in northern Syria.

In a statement, the Jordanian military said the Islamic State "bears responsibility" for the safety of the pilot, identified as Flight Lt. Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh.

The militants, on social media, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group, said Kasasbeh's aircraft was shot down with an anti-aircraft missile in the province of Raqqa. If confirmed, it would be the first coalition aircraft shot down by the group that controls large swaths of Iraq and Syria.

Advertisement

Jordan is part of a U.S-led coalition that is carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. The Arab members of the coalition include Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar provides logistical support. Other members include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and U.K.

Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.