MH17 was forced to lower its altitude - Malaysia Airlines - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Friendly;45449851]It does say that, but those are Ukrainian Emergency Ministry uniforms. The article is either wrong or the picture is unrelated.[/QUOTE] Or the separatists captured some assets of the Ukrainian emergencies ministry.

[QUOTE=chunkymonkey;45452632]They can say whatever the fuck they want but that doesn't make it official.[/QUOTE] If they have the ability and willingness to enforce it, then yes, it is very official.

[QUOTE=Apache249;45452652]If they have the ability and willingness to enforce it, then yes, it is very official.[/QUOTE] Not really.

[QUOTE=chunkymonkey;45452660]Not really.[/QUOTE] It's not official indeed, but allowing aircraft to fly over wild AA-ridden area, proven time and time again to be dangerous, was kind of irresponsible. Not taking the blame from rebels in any way, they fired the rocket, or anyone directly involved in the matter, but Ukrainian authorities really should start thinking a bit. It's bad as it is they send military aircraft in the area with heavy and diverse anti-air defenses, killing their personnel with no advantage. If terrorists say "don't fly here", you should either listen to them, or clear them out. You can't sit idle, because they will try to shoot down anything that flies. It's not worth the risk. The zone should be closed down for all flights until ground forces clear it out, as long as it takes.

[QUOTE=gudman;45452723]It's not official indeed, but allowing aircraft to fly over wild AA-ridden area, proven time and time again to be dangerous, was kind of irresponsible. Not taking the blame from rebels in any way, they fired the rocket, or anyone directly involved in the matter, but Ukrainian authorities really should start thinking a bit. It's bad as it is they send military aircraft in the area with heavy and diverse anti-air defenses, killing their personnel with no advantage. If terrorists say "don't fly here", you should either listen to them, or clear them out. You can't sit idle, because they will try to shoot down anything that flies. It's not worth the risk. The zone should be closed down for all flights until ground forces clear it out, as long as it takes.[/QUOTE] Flight MH17 does not negotiate with terrorists.

[QUOTE=helifreak;45451458]The Buk missile launcher that was used can shoot them down up to 70000+ feet, the 2000 feet lowering would not change anything about the missile hitting.[/QUOTE] Flying low makes it a lot more difficult for missiles to hit an aircraft, and more difficult for radar to detect the aircraft.

[QUOTE=chunkymonkey;45452660]Not really.[/QUOTE] It doesn't need to be official when the threat is real. Pardon my stupid comparison but it's like teachers knowing there's a bomb but they keep everyone in school because the police haven't confirmed it yet.

[QUOTE=Binladen34;45452741]Flying low makes it a lot more difficult for missiles to hit an aircraft, and more difficult for radar to detect the aircraft.[/QUOTE] Well, there's something I didn't know.

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;45452795]Well, there's something I didn't know.[/QUOTE] yeah but you gotta be 50-600 feet for it to actually work. 2000 feet and any SAM can hit you.

[QUOTE=chunkymonkey;45452660]Not really.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry sir you're going to have to file some paperwork with the proper authorities before shooting me down

[QUOTE=dai;45453058]I'm sorry sir you're going to have to file some paperwork with the proper authorities before shooting me down[/QUOTE] Imagine a world so enmeshed in bureaucratic functions that every action taken in a war would have to be approved by the appropriate paperwork on both sides, in triplicate. :v:

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45453064]Imagine a world so enmeshed in bureaucratic functions that every action taken in a war would have to be approved by the appropriate paperwork on both sides, in triplicate. :v:[/QUOTE] Arms race, but instead of weapons and soldiers you make printing machines and train clerks.

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45453064]Imagine a world so enmeshed in bureaucratic functions that every action taken in a war would have to be approved by the appropriate paperwork on both sides, in triplicate. :v:[/QUOTE] We're heading in the right direction! Just as long as we don't emotionally wound anyone and they can sue us, we should be able to fire a couple bullets!

[QUOTE=dai;45449806]but that says the pro-russian separatists still have it and they're still shipping it to Moscow to prevent others from getting it?[/QUOTE] German state TV news (Tagesschau iirc) said they wanted to give it to an "international flight safety organisation".

[QUOTE=Tamschi;45454095]German state TV news (Tagesschau iirc) said they wanted to give it to an "international flight safety organisation".[/QUOTE] The claim is they are handing it to ICAO, which is the international aviation regulation body. They are probably the most neutral people that could assist in this matter IMO.