There is no war there. Just ask the Russians.

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(1) Agreed. Overflying a war zone where there are long-range truck-mounted anti-aircraft missiles in known use is idiotic and criminal.
(2) The US still has about 100 B-52 bombers in service and will likely retain them for another 10-15 years.
(3) Rumor has it that the plane was being escorted out of the war zone by Ukrainian fighters. Fighter escort could have make it a target in the SAM operators' eyes:
https://twitter.com/blamedandshamed/status/489828713291591680

There you have it.

Isn't that supposed to go to the European Aviation and Safety Agency? Or is Ukraine already Russia ?

1 Looks like they were sentenced. 3 That is bull. Spanish in Kiev? The air space was unrestricted at that time, although it has now been closed. Right now my money is on Russian backed rebels or Russians in Ukraine. Putin seems to feel indemnified for actions from Ukraine soil. Plausible deniability . Wasn't me. We'll see.

I think they want to give Snowden the first crack . . .

Somewhat strange the B52s are still in service. I doubt even with their massive amount of evasion technology they could avoid the more sophisticated air defense systems of today.

Todays better technology would probably make it hard to impossible to avoid them. Possibly they are still in service to carpet bomb where the technology is weak or obsolete for air defense.

It's a extremely versatile platform for all sorts of missions. I believe 4 to 6 nuclear cruise missiles can be fitted.

Malaysia Airline officials have released a statement to the grieving families at the Kuala Lampur airport:

" We have lost communications with Flight MH17 and believe it is lost in the Caspian Sea and request that Vietnam and China and any other available resources undertake extensive search efforts there. Meanwhile unconfirmed analysis of radar data indicates it may have veered off course around at various altitudes crossing Azerbiajon and Georgia last assumed heading wandering on autopilot over the black sea. We further request that everyone from the middle east, Africa, Australia and Europe search the Mediterranean sea and the Indian ocean at this time just in case. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families as we investigate the pilots,crew and passengers."

I apologize, couldn't resist.

I could easily see a Spanish controller in Kiev. A Spanish firm could have been contracted to upgrade Ukrainian ATC systems and he was there to train the local controllers on new systems, or any number of reasons.

LOL @ the Gospel Herald Title

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Crashes over Ukrainian Airspace, Plane May have been Shot Down by Russian Antiaircraft Missile | Gospelherald.com

Into a what? And then fell to the earth?

Even after Flight 370, the news outlets sure weren't afraid to start with the speculation.

@grasswire is an interesting follow on Twitter if anyone is on it.

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What is the likelihood of a portable SAM hitting an airliner at 30K ft. altitude? I really don't know....

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BUKs 3, planes 0

It crashed into a missle, of course. Sort of like a t-bone at a street intersection. The missle's attorney is already claiming that it had the green light.

Zero. This wasn't a portable SAM. This was a truck launched or fixed SAM site. More like our old Nike system than a Stinger missile.