Malaysian Jet Shot Down By Surface-To-Air Missile – US

A Malaysian airliner with 298 people on board was shot down over Ukraine by a surface-to-air missile Thursday but it was unclear who fired the weapon, US officials said.

Intelligence analysts are reviewing data to determine whether the missile was launched by pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine, Russian troops across the border or Ukrainian government forces, two US officials told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“We are working through all the analysis,” said one official.

But there was little doubt that the plane was struck by a surface-to-air missile.

“That’s what we strongly believe,” the official said.

At an event in Detroit, Vice President Joe Biden said the US-made Boeing 777 was intentionally “blown out of the sky.”
The aircraft was “apparently… and I say apparently because we don’t have all the details yet… shot down. Not an accident. Blown out of the sky,” Biden said.
Soon after the plane went down, Ukrainian leaders accused pro-Russian separatists of bringing down the airliner in a “terrorist” attack.
Speculation soon focused on the possibility that the airliner was shot down inadvertently, possibly by pro-Russian forces believing they were targeting a Ukrainian army transport plane.

The aircraft was reportedly flying at an altitude of more than 30,000 feet (10 kilometers), putting it well within range of Russian-made Buk missiles that are in the arsenals of both Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Widely used, the Buk surface-to-air missiles are mobile systems installed on wheeled or tracked vehicles and are designed to strike aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters and other targets.

Before the conflict in Ukraine began, Kiev government forces had about six to eight batteries of the missile, according to military analysts.
Russia has many more at its disposal, as well as more sophisticated missiles, though it remains unclear if they are deployed near Ukraine.
Buk missiles are complicated to operate, unlike shoulder-launched weapons, and it would require outside help or extensive training for pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine to be operating the missile batteries, said IHS Jane’s senior defense analyst Edward Hunt.

“They’re normally not seen within insurgent or separatist forces for the very reason they’re quite manpower intensive, training intensive and spare parts intensive,” Hunt said.

Buk weapons require several people to operate, including a radar operator coordinating with those launching the missiles from a common post vehicle.
Ukrainian air traffic controllers lost contact with Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 at 1415 GMT, about four hours into its flight and some 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

The plane had taken off from Amsterdam en route to Kuala Lumpur.

There were no signs of survivors at the crash site in eastern Ukraine, with horrific scenes of carnage.



Major: These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.
Greek: Yes, Major.
Major: The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first 200. We have found the first 200 - a civilian.
Greek: Well, what do you have there?
Major: In short, it was 100 per cent a passenger aircraft.
Greek: Are many people there?
Major: Holy sh**t! The debris fell right into the yards [of homes].
Greek: What kind of aircraft?
Major: I haven't ascertained this. I haven't been to the main site. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies.
Greek: Is there anything left of the weapon?
Major: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.
Greek: Are there documents?
Major: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson.

Posted: at 18-07-2014 01:05 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

But why?

Posted: at 18-07-2014 05:09 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming

      

Posted: at 18-07-2014 07:24 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero

See wat beefs has caused. If d malaysians say they will not accept apology but retaliation, wat will dis troublesome russians do. Russians like trouble and its abt time many countries face them. I jt pity their citizens.

Posted: at 18-07-2014 08:10 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero

PRES  PUTIN IS AN EVIL MAN

Posted: at 18-07-2014 10:10 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Pro-Russian loyalists already took credit for the downed plane on twitter until it was discovered that it was a commercial airliner, then it was retracted. So we know who did it. Now lets uncover who made and trained these idiots how to use the rocket

Posted: at 18-07-2014 01:47 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

rushians like trouble alote,they will soon find their match

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Posted: at 18-07-2014 03:16 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Russian +USA = troubles

Posted: at 18-07-2014 08:04 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming

Malaysia,  not America, should consider it an act of war, but I doubt if Malaysia is capable of going to war with Ukraine without American support.
#makepeacenotwar.

Posted: at 19-07-2014 02:47 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming

well this is just an act of war.....Putin is just heartless,i pity malaysia....

Posted: at 19-07-2014 04:45 PM (9 years ago) | Newbie