Malaysia Airlines flight crashes in Ukraine

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Acey

The angle that there is some grand conspiracy with MH alone intentionally flying over this airspace to put passengers at risk. I've been following this all day, and a surprising number of people were approaching it this way.

That sounds absurd. I still find it surprising civilian aircraft have been traversing territory that has had multiple aircraft shot down in recent weeks.

[lanny9]

Obama has to be in talks with someone, been sitting on Airforce 1 for over 30 minutes without the door opening to let him out. With two major news stories today it is hard to say if it is about this or Israel?

[lanny9]

Ukrainian intelligence tonight released recording of two Russian military officials talking with two pro-Russian rebel leaders rights after the downing. Russian GRU officers I guess, whatever that is.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

you sure are antagonistic...

Well, you said it best I guess...

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Listen cool guy! Use the block button.. I could really give a crap what you think.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by lanny9

Ukrainian intelligence tonight released recording of two Russian military officials talking with two pro-Russian rebel leaders rights after the downing. Russian GRU officers I guess, whatever that is.

I wonder how trustworthy Ukrainian intelligence is at this point? While they're not the aggressors in this dispute, I wouldn't doubt that they're aware of the benefit to the current situation if other forces mobilise in their favour.

[sureLoss]

Damn. sounds like over a hundred of the passengers were on their way to an international AIDS conference in Melbourne:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...kla9pI.twitter

MORE than 100 AIDS activists, researchers and health workers bound for a major conference in Melbourne were on the Malaysia Airlines flight downed in the Ukraine.

It is believed that delegates to the 20th International AIDS Conference, due to begin on Sunday, will be informed today that 108 of their colleagues and family members died on MH17.

Among those thought to have been killed was prominent Dutch researcher Joep Lange, a former president of the International Aids Society.

Glenn Thomas, a World Health Organisation media relations coordinator, also died in the crash, according to Dr Haileyesus Getahun, coordinator of the WHO’s Global TB program.

Delegates Lucie van Mens, Martine de Schutter, Pim de Kuijer and Jacqueline van Tongeren were also reportedly on the flight.

Dr Van Mens, director of program development and support at the Female Health Company, has been involved in public health, focusing on prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS, since 1995.

[lanny9]

I'm sure their claim will be scrutinized by US intelligence before they come out and confirm or deny it. But with the proof of Russia supplying weapons in the past, their work in Crimea etc will probably have the world powers believe Ukraine over the Russians here.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Damn. sounds like over a hundred of the passengers were on their way to an international AIDS conference in Melbourne:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...kla9pI.twitter

Yep, I had heard that, sad.... one guy who i think had something to do with the German World Cup team?

[DownhillGoat]

I'm out of thanks for the day but a huge thanks to the guys providing some specialized information, (military insight, airline insight, and our dutch poster).

Makes for some interesting reading.

[Street Pharmacist]

CNN showed pictures released some time ago of the SAM that the Separatists commandeered. The pictures of it were given to the media as proof they took one, so it had to be public knowledge there was one on the area, no?

[GirlySports]

nm

[Timbo]

295 souls... the horror I am... I do not know how to rightly express my grief.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Shouldn't the perpetrators be tried for war crimes? Or is it naive to think something like that would ever happen?

[Daradon]

That's probably putting the cart in front of the horse. First they have to figure out what exactly happened and who is responsible.

[Bigtime]

There is an unconfirmed video out there on youtube that shows the 777 after it was hit and heading towards the ground. Video quality is not good, but it appears to show the right side engine/wing on fire. In fact, the aircraft looks relatively intact.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

There is an unconfirmed video out there on youtube that shows the 777 after it was hit and heading towards the ground. Video quality is not good, but it appears to show the right side engine/wing on fire. In fact, the aircraft looks relatively intact.

Just saw it, looks pretty legit although its not always in focus. Sadly, looks like it was a terrifying plummet to the ground. I sort of hoped it exploded in the air and most passengers would have been unconscious from the blast.

[edslunch]

Could one of our military analysts comment on whether that video is consistent with a missile strike? Do they damage planes or destroy them?

[WilsonFourTwo]

It's even more disturbing to realize that the video is over a minute long....

Watch at your own discretion...it's not graphic, nor does it capture the moment of impact, but it's undeniably sad to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2XwHY_S6z0

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Could one of our military analysts comment on whether that video is consistent with a missile strike? Do they damage planes or destroy them?

A SAM does not impact its target aircraft with itself, but instead at a certain proximity to the target it explodes sending deadly pieces of shrapnel at the target to rip into it.

Based on that video, if the missile was homing in on the right side engine it would have exploded near it, sending debris into the engine, wings, control linkages, and probably igniting the fuel causing the fire visible in the video.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

It's even more disturbing to realize that the video is over a minute long....

Watch at your own discretion...it's not graphic, nor does it capture the moment of impact, but it's undeniably sad to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2XwHY_S6z0

News stories are reporting that the debris was found over a large area - the tail was something like 10km away from the largest crash site. The video show the airplane plummeting in one piece but based on the news stories (which, of course, may be incorrect) it would seem it broke up in midair?