If they can see where the missile was fired from it will be easy to decide who was responsible for thisAnalysis: Jonathan Beale, BBC News
A defence expert has told the BBC that shooting down a plane at 10,000m (9.7 miles) would have required a long- range surface-to-air missile - possibly guided by radar.
That suggests it is unlikely it could have been downed by a portable air defence missile, or Manpad, which has a much shorter range.
The only other possibility is for an aircraft at that height to be downed by a fighter carrying air-to-air missiles.
The US will have access to satellite imagery that should be able to identify ultra-violet plumes if a long-range surface-to-air missile was fired.
Understandable. It's just a shame because before this year, they had a fantastic safety record. Not sure how they're going to recover from this.I know one thing for sure, I'm not flying with Malaysian Airline any time soon... 60% chance you'll land safely for feck sake. RIP.
Not sure what they could have done here if it was shot down by a missile.Understandable. It's just a shame because before this year, they had a fantastic safety record. Not sure how they're going to recover from this.
Not fly over a war zone?Not sure what they could have done here if it was shot down by a missile.
A lot of other planes have taken the same route in past few days going by flight radar.Not fly over a war zone?
I know. But regardless, people are going to think twice before booking a Malaysian airline flight now, especially with the previous incident of the missing plane. Bad luck, superstition and whatnot.Not sure what they could have done here if it was shot down by a missile.
One question. Does it make sense for that air corridor to be used for civil flights when planes have been shot down recently? In such a long haul flight does it make that much difference in the cost to go through another nearby border? Looks like an unnecessary risk, few days after a cargo plane has been shot down in the same place...
One question. Does it make sense for that air corridor to be used for civil flights when planes have been shot down recently? In such a long haul flight does it make that much difference in the cost to go through another nearby border? Looks like an unnecessary risk, few days after a cargo plane has been shot down in the same place...
Ukrainian military confirms it has not fired at any air targets, as do the separatists apparently. Leaves the Russians to explain whether or not they have.
Would seem odd. Surely there are loads of airplanes crossing that airspace on regular basis?
Could be an untrained unit on the Russian border. They've probably been given orders to shoot down Ukrainian transport planes from behind the Russian border and thought it was a Ukrainian transport (probably an untrained or cavalier individual who made a mistake).
Or just some idiots having access to anti-aircraft missiles or guns.
Could be an untrained unit on the Russian border. They've probably been given orders to shoot down Ukrainian transport planes from behind the Russian border and thought it was a Ukrainian transport (probably an untrained or cavalier individual who made a mistake).
I doubt idiots with access to anti-aircraft can take down a moving target at that kind of altitude. There's more organization and structure to this than that.
What about the tower guys? Aren't they supposed to get in contact with the airplane and request identification etc and order them to turn around/ not enter the airspace or whatever? Can't believe no prior checks would be made and a nervous guy just pulls the trigger.
Unless there was no response perhaps. All strange.
This has WW3 written all over it.
In Cold War times this would be game over for this planet.This has WW3 written all over it.
We always say this with events like this and it never happens. Truth is that no one will take on Russia.
We always say this with events like this and it never happens. Truth is that no one will take on Russia.
What about the tower guys? Aren't they supposed to get in contact with the airplane and request identification etc and order them to turn around/ not enter the airspace or whatever? Can't believe no prior checks would be made and a nervous guy just pulls the trigger.
Unless there was no response perhaps. All strange.
Militarily they 'ain't all that. Nukes kind of spoil the idea though.