Moscow, June 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Syrian Air Force MiG-21 fighter pilot Thursday flew his aircraft to Jordan and asked the government for political asylum, a Jordanian minister said.

"The jet fighter landed at 10.45 a.m. and the government is currently considering the pilot's request," said Minister of Media Affairs and Communications Samih Maaytah.

The pilot was named as Hassan Hammadeh by Syrian state news agency.

The plane was escorted by Royal Jordanian Air Force jet fighters soon after it entered the Jordanian airspace and was guided to the base where it landed safely, military sources told the Jordan Times.

SANA earlier reported that radio contact had been lost with the single-seat aircraft.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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