A Syrian passenger plane that departed from Moscow has been forced to land in Ankara after Turkish fighter jets intercepted it and escorted the Syrian Air flight to Esenboga airport.

Turkish authorities stopped the plane over suspicions that it carried military equipment.

Officials claimed “illegal cargo” was discovered on the plane and it had been confiscated.

Syrian and Russian officials strongly denied the claims and said Turkey endangered the lives of the passengers and the crew.

"Turkish military aircraft forced the plane to land without giving prior warning to the pilot. The military aircraft were so close that there could have been an accident," said Gaida Abdul Latif, the head of Syrian Air.

Russian foreign minister Alexander Lukashevich also criticised the Turkey’s actions.

"We are concerned that, in this emergency situation, the lives and safety of the passengers, including 17 Russian nationals, were put at risk," he said.

Turkey imposed an arms embargo on its southern neighbour last year and foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said it would continue to investigate suspicious Syrian planes.