Russia on Friday began examining the black box belonging to the warplane that Turkey shot down to prove that it didn't violate Turkish airspace.
The two countries have been at odds with one another ever since Nov. 24 when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 jet, leading to the death of one Russian pilot and a member of the rescue party, reported AFP. Relations are so strained between the former economic partners that Russia has even imposed economic sanctions.
"We have sufficient evidence that proves that the Russian aircraft did not violate Turkish airspace," said Lt. Gen. Sergei Dronov, the deputy head commander of the Russian air force.
Dronov also revealed that Moscow has invited experts from 14 countries, including unidentified "U.S. citizens," to take part in the study of the plane's flight data recorder, which was recovered by the Russian military after Syrian special forces "liberated" rebel-held territory where the jet was shot down. However, only China and Britain are currently confirmed to have accepted the offer, according to ABC News.
State television broadcast the opening of the orange device in Moscow Friday as reporters and diplomats watched.
Some of the device's memory chips were visibly damaged due to the missile impact, as well as the impact it had with the ground, reported Reuters. It's not clear what data has been lost as a result.
Officials said that experts would try to analyze its contents over the weekend with the hopes of determining the downed jet's flight path and position.
The findings will be released Monday, Dec. 21.
