Syrian pilot shoots self to avoid fiery ISIS execution

The incident is widely considered to have been an attempt to elude the fate of a Jordanian pilot whose burning execution was popularized by the Islamic State propaganda machine.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JUNE 9, 2015 18:24

Syrian media coverage of a crashed military plane in flames (photo credit: SYRIAN MEDIA) — Syrian media coverage of a crashed military plane in flames

(photo credit: SYRIAN MEDIA)

A Syrian pilot chose to avoid what may have been a fiery fate at the hands of the Islamic State group, a Syrian news source claimed on Tuesday, shooting himself after his aircraft suffered a technical failure over enemy territory.

According to Syria's Shaam Times, the incident, which allegedly took place last week, involved a pilot named Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud, 29, who had began his sortie in a base in As-Suwayda, just north of the Jordanian border.

Mahmoud reportedly ejected from his aircraft over Tel Shehab, a town in the Daraa governorate, which is in control of the Islamic State group. Shortly after, Mahmoud committed suicide.

#Syrian pilot Hassan Mahmoud jumped out of his warplane, was surrounded by #ISIS militants. He shot himself dead pic.twitter.com/WgjM4unhlX
— Ahmad Al-Issa (@ahmadalissa) June 9, 2015

The pilot's drastic decision is widely considered to have been an attempt to elude the fate that befell Muath al-Kaseasbeh, the Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the ultra-violent jihadist group. Kaseasbeh, whose F-16 had crashed in Syria in December of last year, was captured and featured in one of the Islamic State's propaganda videos, where he was shown in a cage prior to being immolated.

The Sunni radicals explained their choice in execution by claiming that "Muath al-Kaseasbeh deserved the punishment as he himself had burnt many civilians alive."