Malaysia Airlines Passenger Jet crashes at Ukraine/Russian Border

[DeniseM]

Early report suspect that it was a surface-to-air missile.

A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet crashed -- and was possibly shot down -- in eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

The plane had 280 passengers and 15 crew members on board, read a Facebook post from Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

The Boeing 777 was "shot down" over Ukraine by "terrorists" operating a Buk surface-to-air missile system, the post said.

The plane was shot down near the town on Torez in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to the post, as it flew at about 10,000 meters (32,000 feet).

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-malaysia-airlines-crash/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Appalling...

 

[billymach4]

http://time.com/3001644/malaysia-airlines-ukraine/

Why? and to boot it is another Malaysia 777....

 

[Passepartout]

Plenty of people pointing fingers, saying 'It's their fault, not mine!" Clearly, it took high powered military equipment to bring down a big plane, designed not to crash, from 33,000 feet and over 500 mph. This was not the work of some two-bit terrorist outfit.

FAA has forbidden US carriers from overflying that area, and Lufthansa has said they will make a wide detour around it.

My heart goes out to the families of those aboard. May they find peace.

Jim

 

[ace2000]

295 people (23 Americans) were on board. It's a shame. It's seems kind of weird that the Malaysian leader is making newsworthy comments on his Facebook page.

It's hard for me to comment further without crossing the political line, so I won't.

 

[DeniseM]

It's seems kind of weird that the Malaysian leader is making newsworthy comments on his Facebook page.

Malaysian officials did the same thing when their other plane disappeared - they apparently don't have a PR Dept.

I didn't know this before today, but the FAA ordered US Airlines not to fly over this area back on April 25.

 

[DeniseM]

The US has confirmed that they have evidence that the flight was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Russian Separatists captured a missile system capable of reaching high altitude planes, at the end of June.

 

[Passepartout]

Unbelievable.

Well, believe it. The crew and passengers would have had no idea what happened. Civil aircraft have no threat warning radars to detect anything like this, and it would have been over in the blink of an eye.

The questions now are, was it a Russian missile, or a Ukrainian missile? And who gave the 'Fire' order?

 

[DeniseM]

They don't think it was either - the captured missile system is in the hands of Russian Separatists (rebels.)

 

[vacationhopeful]

This event is shocking and very disturbing. It is terrorism for the sake of "because we can".

Will setting off a nuclear device be next? Or will it be a chemical weapon attack?

Makes the 1978 Jonestown massacre seem to have little importance despite the 909 lives lost. Today, will always make me think, that flying is much more of a risk, than it was just yesterday. There are still strange people - just now they can be dangerous 30,000 below you.

 

[PigsDad]

Well, believe it. The crew and passengers would have had no idea what happened. Civil aircraft have no threat warning radars to detect anything like this, and it would have been over in the blink of an eye.

Unfortunately for the crew and passengers, it is not looking like it was over in the blink of an eye. The plane did not explode in the air and came down in basically one piece, so that would indicate the missile probably destroyed an engine / tail / wing / whatever, making the plane doomed. It is likely all of the people had a several minute fall to the earth from 30K feet and may have been conscious for at least part of it.

Someone needs to pay for this cowardly act.

Kurt

 

[Tia]

Agreed it's plain scary.

This event is shocking and very disturbing. It is terrorism for the sake of "because we can".

Will setting off a nuclear device be next? Or will it be a chemical weapon attack?

.

 

[Passepartout]

Unfortunately for the crew and passengers, it is not looking like it was over in the blink of an eye. The plane did not explode in the air and came down in basically one piece, so that would indicate the missile probably destroyed an engine / tail / wing / whatever, making the plane doomed. It is likely all of the people had a several minute fall to the earth from 30K feet and may have been conscious for at least part of it.

Someone needs to pay for this cowardly act.

Kurt

Heartbreaking, but I think that evidence is supporting this view. I'd prefer it the other way.

 

[pedro47]

The next 24 hours will be scary for that region and what happening in Israel does not help.

 

[ace2000]

Here's a pretty good explanation of what and why it happened... it appears that the plane was shot down by Ukranian rebels (backed by Russia) and they thought it was a military transport plane instead of a civilian airliner.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...urs-leader-boasted-We-warned-not-fly-sky.html

 

[billymach4]

Here are the facts

Here are the facts


http://time.com/3002612/malaysia-airlines-ukraine-crash/

Just the facts about the MH17 crash

Here’s what TIME knows about Malaysian Airlines MH17 and how it crashed:

Malaysia Airlines tweeted that the flight’s last known position was over Ukrainian airspace.
The flight crashed near the town of Torez in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
The Boeing 777 was carrying 295 passengers and crew when it crashed. There have been no reports of survivors.
Ukraine officials say that the plane may have been shot down by Russian-made weapons.
A leader of the pro-separatist group in Ukraine told TIME that rebels did not shoot the plane down, although they have the capability.
Both President Obama and Ukrainian President Poroshenko have called for investigations of the crash.

 

[DeniseM]

Billy - The US has already gone on record saying they have evidence that it was shot down. For them to make a statement this early, they must be very sure.

 

[easyrider]

Not to worry, neutral Russia has the black box.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ack-box-sent-to-moscow-for-investigation.html

If Russia is going to supply the separatists with buk missile launchers they should also supply the necessary radar so the separatist would know what they are shooting.

While this event happens, Tripoli has been taken to a surprise raid by armed militia. Maybe tomorrow's news if anyone still cares about Libya.
https://twitter.com/arabthomness/status/489868165191852032/photo/1

Here is what Putin says about this dealio.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie..._PUTIN_?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

In this regard, I want to note that this tragedy would not have happened if there were peace on this land, if the military actions had not been renewed in southeast Ukraine. And, certainly, the state over whose territory this occurred bears responsibility for this awful tragedy.

Could this be the excuse Putin needs to take over the Ukraine ? Maybe.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

Here are the facts


http://time.com/3002612/malaysia-airlines-ukraine-crash/

Just the facts about the MH17 crash

Here’s what TIME knows about Malaysian Airlines MH17 and how it crashed:

Malaysia Airlines tweeted that the flight’s last known position was over Ukrainian airspace.
The flight crashed near the town of Torez in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
The Boeing 777 was carrying 295 passengers and crew when it crashed. There have been no reports of survivors.
Ukraine officials say that the plane may have been shot down by Russian-made weapons.
A leader of the pro-separatist group in Ukraine told TIME that rebels did not shoot the plane down, although they have the capability.
Both President Obama and Ukrainian President Poroshenko have called for investigations of the crash.

I read something like this. The separatists are saying its a setup. They don't have the radar system to track or target a plane flying that high is what was said. Also there is an eye witness who saw a fighter jet shoot down the airliner. There were 3 planes in total in the air is what is being reported by rt news. Its an odd dealio backed by Russia who now has all the proof as they have the black box.

And then you have the Ukrainians blaming Russia.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukr...nt-suspected-in-crash-killing-295-356575.html

Bill

 

[johnrsrq]

Its an odd dealio backed by Russia who now has all the proof as they have the black box.[/B]

And then you have the Ukrainians blaming Russia.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukr...nt-suspected-in-crash-killing-295-356575.html

Bill

The “black box” from the airplane traveled to Moscow “for investigation,” Russian radio station Kommersant FM reported.

I'm wondering if this is true. One heck of a Putin/Obama telephone call today. The Dutch ought to be up in arms. The French ought not sell this to Russia, stop the rogue Russians. http://www.defensenews.com/article/...0037/NATO-Treads-Carefully-French-Deal-Russia

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/w...all-war-in-ukraine-is-felt-globally.html?_r=0

This is truly German/French decision. Severe sanctions.

 

[DeniseM]

CNN reports that the Russian news is saying that the Ukraine was trying to shoot down Putan's plane, and shot down the Airliner instead - that is really a stretch...

 

[billymach4]

Remember now this is not the first time!

http://time.com/3002171/malaysia-airlines-ukraine-crash-airliners-shot-down/

If Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was accidentally shot down, it would mark the deadliest such incident. But not the first.


Ukrainian officials have blamed separatist rebels for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, possibly mistaking it for a Ukrainian aircraft. The separatists have denied the allegations—and in turn suggested Ukraine was responsible.

Watch: Ukraine’s Airspace Emptied Out After MH17 Crashed

http://time.com/3002807/malaysia-airlines-ukraine-crash-airspace/

 

[Phydeaux]

Just curious what the interest is in the black box, other than altitude, airspeed, and heading. With no notice whatsoever, what can it provide?

The black box isn't going to shout "I was hit with a SAM from coordinates w3645n4648L3746....

 

[DeniseM]

The black box also has a recording of everything that went on in the cockpit - per CNN. So it might reveal if the pilots saw a rocket approaching them, or anything else that might be a clue.

 

[billymach4]

Just curious what the interest is in the black box, other than altitude, airspeed, and heading. With no notice whatsoever, what can it provide?

The black box isn't going to shout "I was hit with a SAM from coordinates w3645n4648L3746....

My thoughts as well.....

Everyone is so fixated on the other MH tragedy in the Indian Ocean where that Black Box has eluded the investigators. This time they have a factual box. However this is not going to reveal who shot it out of the sky.

 

[billymach4]

The black box also has a recording of everything that went on in the cockpit - per CNN. So it might reveal if the pilots saw a rocket approaching them, or anything else that might be a clue.

I doubt they knew anything at all. Likely no warning or any indication of immediate danger.