I'm surprised nobody posted this yet... http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/10/04/russia.plane.crash/index.html Russian plane 'exploded' before crash MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A Russian plane flying 77 people from Israel to Russia exploded before crashing into the Black Sea, Russian officials have said. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of European Union Justice ministers the incident was possibly be the result of terrorism. Israel, which operates some of the most stringent aviation safety measures, has cancelled all take-offs from Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv as a result. Israel's Transport Ministry said it would be investigating all theories. It said there was no evidence yet pointing to an act of terror but it had not been ruled out. The Sibir Airlines Tu-154 nose-dived into the Black Sea at about midday on Thursday during a flight from Tel Aviv to the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. Both the Russian Transport Ministry and domestic security service said an Armenian An-24 plane flying near the Tu-154 had reported to Russian air traffic controllers in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia, that they had seen an explosion aboard the plane. "The Armenians informed us that they saw the plane exploding in mid-air," FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin shown on television, Reuters reported. Garik Ovanisian, the pilot of the Armenian plane, was reported by The Associated Press as saying: "I saw the explosion on the plane, which was above me at an altitude of 11,000 metres (36,790 feet) above the Black Sea. "The plane fell into the sea, and there was another explosion in the sea. "After that I saw a big white spot on the sea and I had the impression that oil was burning." Initial reports said that 66 people had been on board the regular weekly charter flight 1812, but later figures said 66 passengers and 11 crew members. Most, if not all the passengers, were reported to be Israelis. An investigation will be held, led by Vladimir Rushailo, head of the presidential security council, and attempts to retrieve the flight's data recorders will be made. Putin immediately called a meeting of security advisers after being alerted to the crash, and sent a search and rescue team to the site to look for any survivors as well as divers to find any possible evidence. Every plane arriving and departing Ben-Gurion airport undergoes strict security measures and all planes are guarded on the tarmac. Passengers boarding planes also undergo exhaustive security checks. CNN's Jill Dougherty in Moscow said: "There is huge concern in Russia in an atmosphere of terrorism. "There is a fear that Russia could be targeted for some sort of retribution for its support of a global crackdown on international terrorism." Vasily Yurchuk, Spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, said the plane went down 185 kilometres (114 miles) off the Russian coastal city of Adler, near the Georgian border, The Associated Press reported.
I think Putin's claims that terrorism might be involved are hysterical. The plane took off from Isreal folks. Nobody, and I mean Nobody, is getting on board that plane without the say so of uzi-toting guards who aren't real friendly. Plus the plane, from what I hear, was a fairly old one with a bad safety record.
CNN is now reporting that a <i>missile</I> may have caused the crash.... <B>Sources: Missile may have caused crash</B> <I>U.S. sources tell CNN the Siberian Airlines plane that crashed into the Black Sea could have been brought down accidentally by a missile during Ukrainian military exercises. The flight, bound for Siberia from Tel-Aviv, Israel, exploded before crashing with 77 people on board. </I>
It might be a bomb that got through security. It has happened before. No security is air tight. DaDakota
I don't think they're trying to blame anybody dylan, it's a logical assumption. Terrorist flew 3 planes into U.S. buildings, they have vowed payback on whoever helped the U.S., Russia is helping the U.S., and a plane went down in flames for, at the time, unknown reasons, wouldn't you think the logical assumption would be terrorist? Terrorist aren't going to get the benefit of the doubt.
<A HREF="http://www.thenewspapertoday.com/world/inside.phtml?NEWS_ID=29384">India paper says: 'Bullet' holes found in downed Russian jet</A> <i> 'Bullet' holes found in downed Russian jet AFP Moscow, October 05, 17:44 Several holes resembling those made by bullets were discovered in recovered fragments of a Russian TU-154 jet that crashed into the Black Sea, Moscow news agencies reported on Friday citing rescue officials. The Captain of a dry cargo carrier conducting the rescue work reported finding at least three holes in the fragment of the recovered cockpit, reporting this information to the transportation ministry, which is leading an investigation into Thursday's accident, Interfax said. "It is up to specialists to draw the final conclusion," the report quoted the deputy rescue work chief Nikolai Burkov. Separately, Itar-Tass reported that possible bullet holes were also discovered in a door of the passenger jet. Some 76 passengers, most of them Israelis, died on the flight, which left Tel Aviv for the western Siberian city of Novosibirsk. The investigation has focused on whether the plane was a victim of a terrorist attack. Other unconfirmed reports said the Sibir Air jet was accidentally shot down during military exercises in Ukraine. The reports of bullet holes would support suggestions that a terrorist may have been onboard the ill-fated plane, although Russian officials quickly declared that no conclusion can be reached on what caused the tragedy until a formal investigation is completed. </i> Mango
