Duma speaker blames Ukraine for allowing civil airliner to use airspace over war-torn area

[FrodosPet]

http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/741291

MOSCOW, July 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s State Duma, lower house, Speaker Sergei Naryshkin has blamed Ukraine for allowing Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777 civil aircraft to use airspace over the war-torn eastern area.

“We’re shocked by the fact that the Ukrainian aviation authorities allowed the civil airliner to use airspace over the territory where the Ukrainian army uses armoured vehicles, heavy artillery, warplanes and launch rocket systems against their citizens,” Naryshkin said on Friday.

“This fact can be considered criminal negligence. I don’t want to think about a premeditated act,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 passenger plane crashed in Ukraine 60 km from the Russian border on July 17. The airliner carried 298 passengers, including 15 crewmembers. The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

~ snip ~

------------------------------------------

They are not blaming Ukraine for the shoot - but for letting them in somewhere that they might be mistaken for a military aircraft.

[MohRokTah]

1. That's pretty pathetic.

What was Ukraine supposed to do when they flew into the air space, shoot them down?



The no fly zone was 32,000 feet. The original flight plan was not through the area but they were forced into it by the weather.

This is similar to blaming the victim of a rape for being out at that hour in the parking lot.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Actually, the NYT coverage says differently:

Why was MH17 over a conflict zone?

Another NOTAM was issued on Tuesday prohibiting flights in an expanded area close to where MH17 crashed – but crucially it only applied to operations between 26,000 feet and 32,000 feet.
The pilots of MH17 filed a flight plan asking to fly at 35,000 feet throughout Ukrainian airspace, the airline said in a statement Friday. However, upon entering Ukrainian airspace, MH17 was instructed by Ukrainian air traffic controllers to fly at 33,000ft.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-plane-crash/why-was-malaysia-airlines-mh17-flying-over-ukraine-time-money-n159161

More info on how airline routes are chosen in the article.