A Malaysian Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur has been destroyed over the border region between Russia and Ukraine. While full details are not yet in, word is that the plane was shot down by a ground to air missile. No one is yet certain whether the missile was fired by Russian, Ukrainian or "independent" (Russian separatist) forces.
One does have to wonder why a commercial airliner would fly over a zone like this. Even at five miles above ground, the plane presented a tempting target for those who want to stir things up. Even more important, it is not surprising that a blip on a radar screen could be mistaken for a hostile aircraft and attacked.
It is important to keep in mind that just yesterday, Ukraine announced that Russian fighter jets had shot down a Ukrainian air force plane in the same area. According to the Ukraine, Russian planes illegally flying in Ukrainian air space used air to air missiles to take down a Ukrainian plane that came near to them. The Ukrainian pilot ejected and made it safely to the ground. With this incident less than 24 hours old, the local defense forces were undoubtedly on heightened alert looking for Russian planes over the Ukraine or for Ukrainian planes retaliating against the Russians.
We may learn more about this disaster in the next few days. Right now, however, one thing is certain: I will not be flying Malaysian Airlines any time soon. We all know how poorly the airline performed with regard to flight 370. Now we learn that they are flying unarmed commercial flights over war zones. They may continue to fly in such locations, but I surely won't be aboard.
One does have to wonder why a commercial airliner would fly over a zone like this. Even at five miles above ground, the plane presented a tempting target for those who want to stir things up. Even more important, it is not surprising that a blip on a radar screen could be mistaken for a hostile aircraft and attacked.
It is important to keep in mind that just yesterday, Ukraine announced that Russian fighter jets had shot down a Ukrainian air force plane in the same area. According to the Ukraine, Russian planes illegally flying in Ukrainian air space used air to air missiles to take down a Ukrainian plane that came near to them. The Ukrainian pilot ejected and made it safely to the ground. With this incident less than 24 hours old, the local defense forces were undoubtedly on heightened alert looking for Russian planes over the Ukraine or for Ukrainian planes retaliating against the Russians.
We may learn more about this disaster in the next few days. Right now, however, one thing is certain: I will not be flying Malaysian Airlines any time soon. We all know how poorly the airline performed with regard to flight 370. Now we learn that they are flying unarmed commercial flights over war zones. They may continue to fly in such locations, but I surely won't be aboard.
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