Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Reportedly Killed in Mysterious Plane Crash While Fleeing the Country

Damascus, December 8, 2024 – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is suspected to have died in a plane crash after his aircraft went missing following his escape from Damascus, as rebel forces took control of the capital.
According to global news agencies, the flight carrying Assad disappeared from radar after taking an unusual turn. The flight data, provided by FlightRadar, indicates that a Syrian Airlines aircraft departed from Damascus International Airport just as rebels seized the city. Initially, the plane headed towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made a sudden turn.
Minutes before it vanished from radar, the plane was reportedly flying in the opposite direction. While Reuters could not immediately confirm the identity of the passengers, two sources inside Syria suggested that it is highly likely that President Assad was on board and may have perished in the incident.
The sources also indicated that the reason for the plane’s sudden U-turn and its disappearance remains a mystery.
Reports had earlier emerged on December 8, 2024, claiming that Assad had been escorted by military personnel to the airport in the early hours of the morning, presumably to flee the advancing opposition forces. Shortly after, an explosion was reported in the vicinity where Assad’s plane was last detected.
Speculation is rife on social media, with some claiming that Assad’s aircraft was shot down, but this has yet to be verified.
As the situation remains fluid, the international community is awaiting further details on the fate of the Syrian leader.