First of all, I would like to express my deep sympathy to the families and friends of all the innocent victims who died aboard Malaysia’s flight MH 17. My heart also goes to the beautiful and good people of Malaysia. This is a very difficult time for Malaysia and its national carrier which for a long time had been known to be one of the safest and best airlines in the world. But, in a very short time, the airline saw two tragedies. First one involved a mysterious disappearance of a wide-body aircraft that most likely will never be found. The other tragedy happened because of a conflict in Ukraine that neither Malaysia nor the unfortunate passengers had anything to do with.
I am not an aviation expert, but the minute I heard about the crash of Malaysia’s MH17, I asked myself why it was flying along a route which took it above Ukrainian air space. I and many others asked the question even before it was announced that the cause behind the crash might be a surface-to-air missile. As far as I know, when there is a conflict of any kind, then notices to mariners and aviators are broadcast worldwide to alert seafarers and aviators of any threats. So, was there any warning about any restriction regarding Ukrainian Airspace or was it up to the airlines to decide which areas to avoid?
Just a short time before the tragic incident, many airlines changed their flight plans and avoided flying over Crimea, the Black Sea and Azvos due to potential conflicting air traffic control between the Russians and Ukrainians. For the information of readers, the air traffic control over these areas had been lacking proficiency since the communist era. And at the end of the day, a civilian plane was shot with hundreds of passengers from different nationalities and now people are asking who did it and why they did it?
Most likely, MH17 crashed without sending any distress or voice messages. This means that there is a big and sudden malfunction in all its avionics. But, the crash area saw several deadly SAM missiles engagements which resulted in the downing of Ukrainian planes. This includes small and fast low-flying jets and slow flying cargo planes. MH17 was flying at an altitude of 32,000 feet at a speed of 500 knots and if it was downed by surface-to-air missiles, then this missile must have speed, acquisition ability, big war head, air search radar, fire control radar and trained crew….. Oops, did someone say or mention Buk missile system or SAM-11? So, who has this missile system in that area? Answer is easy. Russia or rebels backed by the Russians.
The BUK missile is a very sophisticated surface-to-air missile system that can travel at three times the speed of sound. It has four main components which consist of acquisition and targeting radar, command element, missile launcher and the logistic element. And it requires a crew of 4 highly trained personnel. The missile system can be readied in four minutes and it is very sensitive and only trained crew can operate it. It is designed to track about 16 targets at a time. But, why did the firing crew fail to identify a civilian plane cruising at 32,000 feet. So, the missile system is Russian and most likely the crew that fired the missile is from the Ukrainian rebels. But, if the information is accurate, then why did Russia provide the separatists with such an advanced weapon. For the information of the readers, after the missile is fired then it needs some guidance by the operator to guide it toward the target, but, the missile does not need to hit the target directly because it can destroy the target by detonating next to it and do the damage by its fragments… this is deadly.
Now, this unfortunate incident has already happened and nothing will bring the dead back. But, many people around the world are shocked of the behavior of the Russians and the Ukrainian rebels and their disrespect for the dead and their lack of cooperation with the concerned agencies. Europe has given stiff warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin directly. Russians have a lot to explain because there are indications that the MH17 was downed by a surface-to-air missile.
Russia will be more isolated than before. And as a matter of fact, Russia has always been isolated not only by governments, but, also by people around the world. It is very seldom to hear a tourist spending his/her vacation in the Russian countryside or someone sending his child to attend school in Russia. If Russia did it or the one who provided this lethal weapon to uncontrolled and undisciplined separatists, then Russia will not only lose its respect in the world, but, will also lose its respect by its own people.
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