Airliner Shot Down over Ukraine

[kcdusk]

Malaysian Airlines was flying the route because it is the shortest, and therefore the cheapest. Maybe they shouldn't be flying over the Ukraine or any war zone, but if you put pins on a map of all the "war zones" how much safe flying space is left, and what kind of weird flight paths would be necessary to get from A to B?

I read (so take with a grain of salt) that airlines only fuel up enough to get to their destination (with small margin of error) to encourage pilots to do everything they can to save petrol.

Adding countermeasures would add cost, so airlines won't do that.

"Separatists looting the crash site" could mean a few different things in the real world. Is it locals stealing money from wallets (not a nice thought, but given how poor the villagers are it might be a once in a life time opportunity for a few dollars)? Is it people taking metal? Bodies (trophies, ransoms)?

[SionEwig]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

<SNIP>

"Separatists looting the crash site" could mean a few different things in the real world. Is it locals stealing money from wallets (not a nice thought, but given how poor the villagers are it might be a once in a life time opportunity for a few dollars)? Is it people taking metal? Bodies (trophies, ransoms)?

Credit cards. That area is very well known for credit card fraud. Plus possibilities of recovering data from peoples various electronic devices which would lead to more fraud.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by SionEwig

Credit cards. That area is very well known for credit card fraud. Plus possibilities of recovering data from peoples various electronic devices which would lead to more fraud.

There's a YT video of them going through some guy's luggage; they jack his binocs but throw them back because they're broken.

[pmulcahy11b]

Let's not forget the Russians have done this before. KAL anyone?

Russian soldiers are world-known for their propensity towards atrocities. Crimea, World Wars one and two, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Afghanistan.

[stormlion1]

Looting and what appears to be destroying evidence. Not that there is all that much evidence to begin with. Its pretty cut and dried a missile hit the plane. But what they are probably looking for is missile fragments with serial codes. The looting is a added bonus to the militants.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

If they wish to destroy evidence perhaps we could assist them with concentrated JDAM strikes.

[Askold]

Russians, Russians, Russians...

They. Are. UKRAINIANS! (Or from people's Republic of Donetsk as they call the area they now control)

If some Canadian guy steals a wallet do you start complaining about "those God damn yankees" then?

...I know that the separatists are backed up and armed by Russia but they are still mainly Ukrainians. It was Crimea where they got Russian passports and the area was annexed wether the locals wanted or not. Donetsk is trying to become a separate country.

(And the looting seems to be acts of individuals rather than organised and approved by the militia.)

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Askold

Russians, Russians, Russians...

They. Are. UKRAINIANS!

Yes, I'm entirely certain there are no Spetznaz on the ground directing this. Yessir, not a one.