Originally Posted by
Widger
History tells us that even more mature and capable States around the world get it wrong.
In 1998 the USS Vincennes, a state of art guided missile cruiser with highly trained warfare specialists, shoots down an Iranian Airbus flying south out of Bandar Abbas, with the correct squawk, following an airway and in contact with ATC. 290 deaths
The shooting down of a UK GR4 by a US Patriot Missile in 2003 (Gulf War II). Edited thanks
The shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine by Separatists or others unknown - 298 deaths
Aeroflot 902 in 1962 with 80+ deaths during an air defence exercise
Siberian 1812 in 2001 during a Ukrain military exercise 78 dead,
KAL 007 as well springs to mind...
I'm wondering why on earth civvie traffic was still operating- I know visitors likely wanted to get the heck out of dodge but it does seem fairly close to be flying at that point.
Flights have being diverted around Iraqi/Iranian airspace in the past for much less...