In comparison to other Arab air forces, Syria Air Force highest number of defections, mostly to Turkey, including:
* In 1965, a Syrian pilot defected with MiG-17F to Israel.
* In July 1988, two Syrian pilots defected with their MiG-29's to Turkey.
* In April 1989, a Syrian pilot defected with his MiG-23ML to Turkey.
* In October 1989, Syrian pilot Abdel Bassem landed his MiG-23ML in Israel.
