This is so sad....

[bongo]

LINK: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/...d-crew-emerge/

[MickR]

Agreed mate. I've held the opinion that the world needs to stay out of Russian/Ukraine business up until now. Now my opinion has changed to one of, the rest of the world needs to send in troops to wipe these Separatist vermin off the face of the planet and stare down Russia or any other country that try's to stop justice (or revenge as the case may be) from taking place. Of course I'm speaking from cold emotion here, and my thoughts may change again as more information comes to light. One thing is certain though, and that's the need to secure the crash zone and keep looters/separatists/criminals/locals etc. well and truly away from it, so that investigators can do their job.


Mick

[Grazor]

Just makes me wonder why any airline would fly through a war zone in the first place. To save fuel? Don't know what Malaysian airlines were thinking, but I certainly wouldn't fly with them.

[BobH]

Just makes me wonder why any airline would fly through a war zone in the first place. To save fuel? Don't know what Malaysian airlines were thinking, but I certainly wouldn't fly with them.

Apparently they were flying a recognized/numbered air route that was open to them above a certain altitude Malaysian Airlines MH17 flying above perceived danger level | Air Traffic Management | Air Traffic Management - ATM and CMS Industry online, the latest air traffic control industry, CAA, ANSP, SESAR and NEXTGEN news, events, supplier directory and ma . It is the shortest route to their end destination making it the most economical. Even though the route was open above a certain altitude some other airlines, KLM for example, have been avoiding that route to the same end destination for a while now. Personally I like KLM's decision to err on the side of caution better, even thought the route taken by MH17 was open and authourized. That is no solace after the fact though.

Bob

[mike1011]

Just makes me wonder why any airline would fly through a war zone in the first place. To save fuel? Don't know what Malaysian airlines were thinking, but I certainly wouldn't fly with them.

As is said already it was supposed to be a safe route above 31,000 ft. The plane was flying at 33,000 ft. In addition to that, the rebels were not supposed to have the hardware to attack a plane at that height. Clearly that was wrong and at this point in time looks like the Russians have been arming the rebels.

[Sailor]

Just makes me wonder why any airline would fly through a war zone in the first place. To save fuel? Don't know what Malaysian airlines were thinking, but I certainly wouldn't fly with them.

Because nobody really expected anything like this would ever happen. It was a massacre..
Numerous other airline companies used the same route.
Just read from the Swedish Sydvenskan magazine that SAS/Singapore Airlines/Viking Australia flight no. SQ351 flew exact the same route just 100 seconds (1min 40seconds) later. Guess they feel lucky now.

Off course it is easy to be wise afterwards. It was a known fact that those 'rebels'/special forces/unidentified little green men (i have many better names for them) had the BUK system.

[MickR]

Just makes me wonder why any airline would fly through a war zone in the first place. To save fuel? Don't know what Malaysian airlines were thinking, but I certainly wouldn't fly with them.

That's a fair call, and considering their recent track record, quite understandable. I, however, don't hold it against them, as has been pointed out already, they were doing everything right by the book. They just weren't as paranoid as I would have been considering the circumstances.


Mick

[BobH]

I think we can all thank Mr Putin for giving the kids a box of matches to play with to burn the house down. His approval rating might be high in Russia but personally I would not cross the street to pizz on him if he were on fire after this.

[Sailor]

I think we can all thank Mr Putin for giving the kids a box of matches to play with to burn the house down. His approval rating might be high in Russia but personally I would not cross the street to pizz on him if he were on fire after this.

Guess that is what almost every person living next to Russia has thought about Putler for a long time now. Too sad it took a terrible act like this for the rest of the world to open their eyes.
I'm sorry for Ukraine and her people. I have few family friends living there. I'm sorry for Russian people too as their leaders are dragging them all down too.
There's certain unrest now in all those countries bordering gray bear. I'm afraid we haven't seen the worst yet.

[mike1011]

I'm afraid we haven't seen the worst yet.

Sadly I think you are correct. Up until now the international community has, by and large stood back and let things unfold. I can't see how they can now.

What I do find strange is that some news reports are calling it a "terrorist" attack. From what I can gather they didn't intentonally shoot down a commercial passenger plane, they thought it was a military transport plane. So its not a terrorist attack.

Clearly the Russians have given the rebels some serious hardware and taught them enough to enable them to shoot planes down. The problem is they haven't taught them enough to know what exactly they are shooting at.

It remmmains to be seen what will be done with Russia, I just hope for all our sakes China doesn't get involved.