plane shot down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plane shot down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing military actions, aviation incidents, or news reports about aircraft being attacked or destroyed. Example: "The news reported that a military plane was shot down during the conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Was the plane shot down by a jumpy military?

The Washington Post

Video has emerged of the final moments of a Russian plane shot down by Turkish jets.

Independent

It originally said that the Korean Airlines plane shot down in September 1983 was a Boeing 737.

The Guardian

Wall Street has fallen following Israel's assault on Gaza and the Malaysian plane shot down over Ukraine.

The Guardian

In another, an all-male beach getaway in 1973 is interrupted when the young men — and their camera — see a fighter plane shot down over the water.

The New York Times

On the other side of the fuselage was painted the pilot's name and 38 Japanese flags, one for each plane shot down.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Also found were a box of gas masks, a diagram showing a plane shooting down a weather balloon and promotional material from militant Islamic groups.

The New York Times

Syrian and Turkish accounts of Friday's plane shoot down differed.

HuffPost

President Dwight D. Eisenhower concocted the "domino theory" about Vietnam, and lied about Francis Gary Powers and the U-2 spy plane shoot down by the Soviet Union.

Huffington Post

Richard Bong, in the number of enemy planes shot down.

The New York Times

The Yugoslav government ripostes with numbers of planes shot down, targets missed and civilians killed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on aviation incidents, be specific about the actors involved (e.g., "the plane was shot down by rebel forces") to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice without specifying who shot down the plane. For example, instead of "The plane was shot down", specify "The plane was shot down by a missile" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plane shot down" functions primarily as a passive construction, often used as a noun phrase or adjectival phrase to describe an aircraft that has been downed by external force. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in news reports and historical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "plane shot down" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an aircraft that has been downed by external force. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used and accepted in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to report or inform about hostile actions against aircraft. While the phrase is neutral in tone, specifying the actors or cause is helpful for clarity. Alternatives like "aircraft downed" or "plane brought down" can be used depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis. Remember to avoid ambiguity by specifying who or what caused the plane to be shot down.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aircraft downed

Replaces "plane" with the more formal "aircraft" and uses the single word "downed" as a verb.

plane was downed by enemy fire

Adds the element of "enemy fire" to explicitly define cause of the crash.

plane brought down

Uses the verb "brought down" instead of "shot down", indicating the cause is external.

plane was targeted and downed

Specifies the action of targeting before the downing of the aircraft.

aircraft destroyed

Replaces "shot down" with a general term for destruction, without specifying the cause.

plane crashed after being hit

Adds detail about the plane crashing after an impact, which can be assumed from "shot down".

airplane was bombed

More specific, indicating the plane was attacked with a bomb.

plane fell from the sky

Less specific; suggests the plane was shot down, but can also indicate mechanical failure.

aircraft was struck mid-air

More general; only conveys that it was hit while flying.

plane met its demise

A euphemistic and less direct way of saying the plane was destroyed.

FAQs

How is the phrase "plane shot down" typically used?

The phrase "plane shot down" is commonly used in news reports and historical accounts to describe instances where an aircraft has been downed by some form of weaponry, whether by a missile, gunfire, or other means. It's a concise way to convey that the aircraft didn't crash due to mechanical failure or pilot error, but rather due to external force.

What are some alternative ways to say "plane shot down"?

You can use alternatives like "aircraft downed", "plane brought down", or "plane destroyed" depending on the level of formality and the specific details you want to emphasize.

Is it correct to say "plane was shot down" versus "plane shot down"?

Both "plane shot down" and "plane was shot down" are correct, but they have slightly different grammatical roles. "Plane shot down" acts as a noun phrase or a shortened passive construction, often used in headlines. "Plane was shot down" is a full passive sentence. The choice depends on the context; the latter is generally more suitable for formal writing.

What's the difference between "plane shot down" and "plane crashed"?

"Plane shot down" implies external force caused the aircraft to fall, while "plane crashed" is a broader term that can include mechanical failure, pilot error, or weather conditions. If you know the plane was attacked, use "plane shot down". If the cause is unknown, "plane crashed" is more appropriate.