Syrian pilot of crashed regime plane in Turkish hospital

A Syrian pilot whose aircraft crashed in Turkey after flying over rebel-held northern Syria is being treated in hospital, Anadolu news agency has said.

The pilot was found after a nine-hour search, with pro-regime social media initially reporting Syrian was "on the run" and that the plane crashed due to a malfunction.

It crashed on Saturday night in the Turkish province of Hatay, with claims by Syrian rebel group Ahrar al-Sham that they downed the Mig-23.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the cause of the crash was unknown but there was poor weather conditions at the time.

The Syrian regime confirmed that they "contact was lost with a military aircraft on a reconnaissance mission near the Turkish border".

A video released by the group shows heavy anti-aircraft gunfire at the time, but no obvious signs that the plane was hit.

Ahrar al-Sham also told AFP that the plane was shot down "as it was overflying Idlib province and carrying out air strikes".

Idlib has suffered from punishing air raids over the weekend, despite being officially part of a nationwide ceasefire.

Agencies contibuted to this story.