Tens of thousands mourn Russian pilot killed in Syria

Tens of thousands of Russians have attended the funeral ceremony of a Russian pilot who blew himself up to avoid being captured by the militants in Syria who downed his plane.

Major Roman Filipov bailed out successfully on Saturday from the burning plane over Syria's northern Idlib province, but was surrounded by al Qaida-linked militants when he landed.

In Voronezh, hundreds of people said farewell to Roman Filipov, Hero of Russia fallen in #Syria. Funeral ceremony was attended by Nikolai Pankov, Deputy Defence Minister, and Colonel General Sergei Surovikin, Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces https://t.co/Hrf1PF8ptE pic.twitter.com/5i7VWQ5b8l

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 8, 2018

The Russian defence ministry said he engaged in a gun battle with the militants and then blew himself up with a hand grenade when they came close.

President Vladimir Putin has posthumously awarded Maj Filipov the nation's highest medal, the Hero of Russia.

Russian Defence Ministry leadership says farewell to Roman Filipov, pilot fallen in #Syria https://t.co/JD111s2oOh pic.twitter.com/m6xOTzJWI2

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 8, 2018

Maj Filipov's body was repatriated to Russia.

More than 30,000 people in the south-western city of Voronezh attended Thursday's funeral ceremony for the pilot, who was married with a four-year-old daughter.

-PA