Captain Sullenberger ‘Big Question’ Is Why Plane Was Flying Over War Zone

[Purveyor]

DANVILLE (CBS SF) – During a phone interview with CBS News Thursday morning, Captain Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was questioned why Malaysia Airlines flight 17 would be flying over Ukraine’s border with Russia despite ongoing political unrest in the area.

Sullenberger, the veteran of the 2009 Miracle on the Hudson landing, is an aviation expert for CBS News, and was asked by Anchor Scott Pelley why a commercial plane would be flying over an area where two aircraft have been shot down just this week.

“That is one of the big questions right now,” said Sully. “The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has barred U.S. Airlines from flying over this area for some time.”

“It’s up to each individual nation, each individual airline how much risk they are going to accept,” he continued.

The Danville resident said that, if air traffic control personnel were using both primary and secondary radar, it’s possible that an image of a missile could have been captured on screen, if in fact that is what took down the plane.

more...

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/07/17/captain-sullenberger-big-question-is-why-plane-was-flying-over-war-zone/

[sufrommich]

1. Many European airlines fly over the Ukraine. It was not an

unusual occurrence.It's cost prohibitive to fly around the area.

[bluedigger]

6. They might want to reevaluate their "costs". n/t

[MattSh]

7. Ukraine (with Crimea) is a bit larger than Texas...

Is it cost prohibitive to fly around Texas?

http://mapfight.appspot.com/ua-vs-texas/ukraine-texas-us-size-comparison

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Per the BBC live feed:

(NB, times given are UK):

20:13: The European Cockpit Association, which represents European pilot associations, says in a statement that the route flown by the plane is the most common route for flights from Europe to South East Asia.

"Our first thoughts go to the relatives and friends of the 290 passengers and of the 15 crew members and colleagues on board of the Malaysian flight MH17," the statement says.


20:00: The International Air Transport Association says the plane appeared to be flying through ordinary airspace when it crashed. "Based on the information currently available, it is believed that the airspace that the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions," the association said in a statement.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-28354787

[spockeye]

3. The plane

was flying at 33,000 feet. The airspace is restricted to 32,000 feet.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Weather forced it north ...

according to CNN.

[kentuck]

5. Good question?

After all, there had been other planes shot down this week???