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The Russian MOD confirmed in a report that air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane on Monday evening.

It stated: "On September 17, at about 11 pm Moscow time (9pm BST), the communication with the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft was lost when it was over the Mediterranean Sea, some 35 kilometres from the Syrian coast, on its way back to Hmeymim airbase."

A search and rescue mission is currently underway.

According to military sources the Syrian province of Latakia was subjected to a missile attack coming from the direction of the sea.