Abkhazia's break-away government stated that a plane crashed, and rejected the claim that it was shot down.
[3] It further reported that Georgian anti-aircraft systems tracked the incursions and that an official note of protest demanding an explanation had been sent to Russia's Foreign Ministry.
[7] He could not confirm whether the plane was shot down, but added that a nearby section of forest, in Abkhazia's Kodori Gorge (Upper Abkhazia), was on fire, and Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said residents reported hearing "an explosion" after Georgian forces fired on the plane.
[8] This would give the alliance more information about Georgia's airspace and would help determine the truth if similar incidents would occur.
"[4] Russia also suggested that Georgian leaders fabricated the incidents to derail planned consultations about South Ossetia.