Russian Military Plane Violates Indian Airspace From Pakistani, HUH? Anyone know what this is about? Options

[Rooh Afza]

Russian military plane violates Indian airspace

timesofindia.com


MUMBAI: A Russian military cargo aircraft AN-24 rpt AN-24 with six passengers and two crew members on Friday night intruded into Indian airspace
from Pakistan and landed at the international airport.

As the plane entered into Indian airspace without the right code, it was escorted to Mumbai airport by Indian Air Force planes, a spokesman of Mumbai International Airport Limited spokesman said here.

The MIAL spokesman said the plane with Russian markings came from Pakistani airspace and was escorted over the Mumbai airport by IAF planes.

The cargo aircraft landed at the airport at around 2240 hours after being allowed by the Air Traffic Control.

Security forces have surrounded the aircraft.

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Anyone know what this is about?

[Hellraiser006]

maybe the Russian pilot was drunk.

[croeso]

So far can only find it on Indian websites..let's wait & see if it's true or not

[iCe-b0mB]

Ticket was coming on different news channels that it was american plane ... what is going on

[Aliph Ahmed]

I think it was Baitullah masud being removed from harm's way.

USA hired Russian plane carrying Six passengers and going off the stated route it supplied to Pakistan air controller.

Need I say more ?

[Pakpower]

Indians new allegation ISI behind it,
baned the PIA to fly over Indian Air space

or only Dialoges if Pakistan do more for Terrorism.
Here have Baitul-alla Masood or give it to Pakistan

[Shehz]

Why would the Indians be hostile to a Russian Military Transport Plane?

Doesn't make sense, especially if they took a military stand to it.
From Gujrat, they'll take the Antonov to the nearest military base, not fly over an hour to Mumbai, unless someone/something needs to be transferred to a Ship.

[SUNNY92]

It was a regular cargo flight, the Indian air traffic controller bungled up with the flight ID code, at one point the Indian media was even reporting as a US aircraft violating Indian airspace from Pakistan. Basically the Indian authorities didn't have a clue.

[Arslan]

Indian media says plane owned by Ukrainian company

Updated at: 0447 PST, Saturday, June 20, 2009

MUMBAI: A Kandahar-bound transport plane leased to the US military and apparently carrying defence cargo was forced to land in Mumbai tonight after it entered Indian airspace without permission.

The AN 124, a huge carrier almost always used by military to haul cargo, entered the Jamnagar area when it was spotted on the Bhuj radar around 9pm on Friday.

The plane, owned by a Ukraine-based logistics and cargo company, was flying from Diego Garcia, the US base, to Afghanistan. The plane has a five-member American crew, who were being questioned in Mumbai late tonight.

The aircraft had taken permission for “unscheduled entry” from the directorate general of civil aviation but it did not have air defence control clearance. Both are needed for foreign planes.

A third approval from the Indian Air Force is also needed if a foreign plane is carrying military equipment. Mumbai airport sources said the AN 124 was carrying military vehicles and ammunition. America and its allies are now locked in a battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The plane headed towards Karachi, then turned and entered Indian airspace. The pilot said the plane was low on fuel, but he was asked to head to Mumbai because of the size of the aircraft.

Sources described as “untrue” reports that the plane was escorted by Indian Air Force jets.

During the Gulf War, India had allowed planes of the US-led allied forces to refuel in Mumbai.

GEO

[must7]

The Ukranian company AN-124 was having US personnel on board and was suppose to be coming from the direction of Pakistan !

So now you know how military equipment for Baitullah Mehsud is transported !

[khawarkhan]

The Ukranian company AN-124 was having US personnel on board and was suppose to be coming from the direction of Pakistan !

So now you know how military equipment for Baitullah Mehsud is transported !

bro yesterday when i heard news from barbers shop (2 malawari was talking) and he was tellin very hapily to other guy in his language and i heard word Pakistani than asked what happen he told me tv is saying (breaking news) that indian forcefully landed Pakistani plane i was ohhh shiiiiiittt howww but than i said no it is wrong info not Pakistani plane but that was time which was like one minute last like one hour, than thank god news was wrong, pheeeewwww

but no indian can be fair with pakistanis weather they are muslims or hindus!!!!!

[Siddharth]

It has been confirmed that the US-chartered An-124 which was intercepted and grounded in Mumbai last night has on board the following items: Two Stryker armoured combat vehicles, an uncomfirmed number of BGM-71 TOW anti-tank munitions, M242 gun ammunition, a consignment of explosive reactive armour tiles for US armoured vehicles and a large consignment of helicopter/aircraft spares, ancillaries and aggregates.

assets belonged to US troops. enough with spy stories.

[must7]

bro yesterday when i heard news from barbers shop (2 malawari was talking) and he was tellin very hapily to other guy in his language and i heard word Pakistani than asked what happen he told me tv is saying (breaking news) that indian forcefully landed Pakistani plane i was ohhh shiiiiiittt howww but than i said no it is wrong info not Pakistani plane but that was time which was like one minute last like one hour, than thank god news was wrong, pheeeewwww

but no indian can be fair with pakistanis weather they are muslims or hindus!!!!!

Well said indeed.

[must7]

It has been confirmed that the US-chartered An-124 which was intercepted and grounded in Mumbai last night has on board the following items: Two Stryker armoured combat vehicles, an uncomfirmed number of BGM-71 TOW anti-tank munitions, M242 gun ammunition, a consignment of explosive reactive armour tiles for US armoured vehicles and a large consignment of helicopter/aircraft spares, ancillaries and aggregates.

assets belonged to US troops. enough with spy stories.

Sidharth .. so you mean India has the balls to forcefully intercept legitimate US equipment meant for Afghanistan ! I doubt it ... with the delay in outbreak of the confirmation news, it sounds & smells like a cover up !

[Shehz]

Why will The US need Anti-Tank Munition in Pakistan, for themselves?
Who's Tank or APC's are the US planning to bust!

The Indian's will now say, the equipment was meant to be delivered to Pakistan.

In school we were taught, refrain from lying, one lie will lead to another.
Indian's should have heeded that advice.

[visioninthedark]

Why will The US need Anti-Tank Munition in Pakistan, for themselves?
Who's Tank or APC's are the US planning to bust!

The Indian's will now say, the equipment was meant to be delivered to Pakistan.

In school we were taught, refrain from lying, one lie will lead to another.
Indian's should have heeded that advice.

but if they dont do stupid things like this ......... how will they prove they are loyal shudr sons of bharat mata? bhindians .... (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/LOLANI.GIF)

[XxSilentViruzxX]

Why will The US need Anti-Tank Munition in Pakistan, for themselves?
Who's Tank or APC's are the US planning to bust!

The Indian's will now say, the equipment was meant to be delivered to Pakistan.

In school we were taught, refrain from lying, one lie will lead to another.
Indian's should have heeded that advice.

Perhaps you are forgetting Shehz, that Anti-Tank munitions and particularly the BGM-71 TOW have been regularly used by the US Army as a Bunker Buster in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In fact, they were used in the Mosul raid on Saddam's sons Uday and Qusay.

BGM-71 in a fixed position in Afghanistan

[Shehz]

Perhaps you are forgetting Shehz, that Anti-Tank munitions and particularly the BGM-71 TOW have been regularly used by the US Army as a Bunker Buster in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In fact, they were used in the Mosul raid on Saddam's sons Uday and Qusay.

BGM-71 in a fixed position in Afghanistan

You also seem to forget that 'sophisticated' US munition is recovered from The Taliban's, which includes the man portable 4 man crew TOW's.

If the munitions were meant for Pakistan, then the flight would'nt be coming in from Afghanistan.
Those flights would be heading straight to Karachi or Chaklala, approaching from the Arabian Sea.

If flying from Chaklala to Afghanistan, India is no where near the flight plan, even the dumbest pilot couldn't have strayed into Indian Air Space unless he made a 180.

Look at the map and talk logic please.
Even Iran uses TOW, so would that make you think that US were delivering to Iran?

[XxSilentViruzxX]

Shehz,

Neither do I care where the weapons were headed, nor have I commented on the flight itself, yet anyways.
My reply was just to remind you that BGM-71 TOW is not only used for busting tanks or APCs like you implied in your earlier post, but also used as bunker busters.
"Shehz: Who's Tank or APC's are the US planning to bust!"

You also seem to forget that 'sophisticated' US munition is recovered from The Taliban's, which includes the man portable 4 man crew TOW's.

If the munitions were meant for Pakistan, then the flight would'nt be coming in from Afghanistan.
Those flights would be heading straight to Karachi or Chaklala, approaching from the Arabian Sea.

If flying from Chaklala to Afghanistan, India is no where near the flight plan, even the dumbest pilot couldn't have strayed into Indian Air Space unless he made a 180.

Look at the map and talk logic please.
Even Iran uses TOW, so would that make you think that US were delivering to Iran?

And, the flight was not coming from Afghanistan, but was actually on its way there from Diego Garcia according to an article posted on this very thread by Arslan. I did look at the map and talking logically, it seems obvious that it is very possible for the plane to have turned towards Indian airspace when it ran out of fuel somewhere along the route to Karachi.

"The plane, owned by a Ukraine-based logistics and cargo company, was flying from Diego Garcia, the US base, to Afghanistan.
The plane headed towards Karachi, then turned and entered Indian airspace. The pilot said the plane was low on fuel, but he was asked to head to Mumbai because of the size of the aircraft."

[Shehz]

I'm just saying the news is totally misleading, the jet was headed originally for India.
I don't know about the Antonov, but the C-130 can fly all the way to Afghanistan without refuelling.

Where is D'Garcia? http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/fac...enroute-map.jpg

From D'garcia, if the plane strays, then she'll be in India AirSpace around Goa/Mumbai.
If she entered India Air Space after entering Pakistan, then passing Karachi, flying one hour into Gujrat?

What is Indian media saying, that the pilot was going around in a large circle?

[XxSilentViruzxX]

I'm just saying the news is totally misleading, the jet was headed originally for India.
I don't know about the Antonov, but the C-130 can fly all the way to Afghanistan without refuelling.

Where is D'Garcia? http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/fac...enroute-map.jpg

From D'garcia, if the plane strays, then she'll be in India AirSpace around Goa/Mumbai.
If she entered India Air Space after entering Pakistan, then passing Karachi, flying one hour into Gujrat?

What is Indian media saying, that the pilot was going around in a large circle?

Shehz,

Ive said it again, but will say it again, all I wanted to do was to point out the fact that BGM-71s are also used as bunker busters and not necessarily just to "bust tanks or APCs," as you impled in your post.

Now since I am dragged into this discussion about the flight and its whereabouts, it has been reported in an article in this very thread that the flight was on its way from Diego Garcia to Afghanistan. Now flying that route, and looking at the picture, we know that the plane is not going to fly anywhere close to Goa/Mumbai and the article doesnt claim it to have passed Karachi as well. It actually states, and I quote, "The plane headed towards Karachi, then turned and entered Indian airspace."
(IMG:http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7494/save1a.jpg)
The distance shown between Diego Garcia and Kabul is about 2800miles which is about 2440 nautical miles.
The range of AN-124 with about 120 tonne payload is 2430 nautical miles. Even if there was lesser payload, it is quite possible that the plane needed fueling at Karachi but was denied entry due to it having a Russian origin. Lets not forget that Indian Airforce flies Russian planes as well.
So thinking logically, it is indeed possible that the flight turned around from Karachi to Gujarat in India in order to refuel.

The only thing that we can question is the necessity for the plane to land in Mumbai. Granted the plane needs a minimum of 3000mts of runway to land, I find it hard to believe that India does not have anything of that size in Gujarat.

[Shehz]

You're 100% wrong, on the flight path.

For Pakistan, the path will be in a curve, like fly W-NW in the direction of say Baghdad, and turn N-NW towards Gawadar, then make an approach E-NE.
If she flies as in a-crows-path, then she'll hit Indian Air Space long before she even comes close to Gujrat.

The very fact that India's didn't know about the intrusion shows her flight path wasn't over Indian Air Space to begin with.
Unless it really is a drama, and the plane was intentionally heading for India.

[Siddharth]

It was force landed because it identified itself as a civilian transport plane. But then it asked for clearance in Pakistani airspace, it asked permission as a defense transport plane (and it was still inside Indian airspace at that time).

This discrepancy led to intercept by IAF fighters and it was forced landed in Mumbai.

[Shehz]

It was force landed because it identified itself as a civilian transport plane. But then it asked for clearance in Pakistani airspace, it asked permission as a defense transport plane (and it was still inside Indian airspace at that time).

This discrepancy led to intercept by IAF fighters and it was forced landed in Mumbai.

Yeah, and that says a lot about the flight plan, which silentvirus seems to miss.
Look at his flight plan again, you'll figure what I'm talking about.

If the flight makes a circle, overshooting Karachi, and flying an hour without the ATC contacting him, or him contacting CT for clearance, says a lot too.
No pilot can be that lost in daydreaming, nor the communicators, that they missed 1 hour's of non-communication, yet the jet kept on heading onto 'possible' commercial aircrafts.

The plane was intended for India all along, we have found such sophisticated US equipment from the Talibs.

[Siddharth]

Yeah, and that says a lot about the flight plan, which silentvirus seems to miss.
Look at his flight plan again, you'll figure what I'm talking about.

If the flight makes a circle, overshooting Karachi, and flying an hour without the ATC contacting him, or him contacting CT for clearance, says a lot too.
No pilot can be that lost in daydreaming, nor the communicators, that they missed 1 hour's of non-communication, yet the jet kept on heading onto 'possible' commercial aircrafts.

The plane was intended for India all along, we have found such sophisticated US equipment from the Talibs.

this plane had clearance as "civil aircraft doing a non-scheduled (charter) operation". Please not, it had permission to overfly Indian airspace under this clearance. But before it was supposed to enter Pakistani airspace it identified itself as defense aircraft.

As all flights entering and leaving Pakistani airspace are (specially) monitored, this ambiguous status of the aircraft forced action from IAF (or defense ministry).

It would be very foolish of IAF on orders of defense ministry to intercept its own cargo (destined to fake Talibs), then intercepting it and releasing all info in Media (which is tightly controlled by South Block when it concerns defense news).

And it would be very nice to see Talibs fighting in armored vechicles, TOW and helicopters.

[Shehz]

It would be very foolish of IAF

And it would be very nice to see Talibs fighting in armored vechicles, TOW and helicopters.

Well, not the first time, we did lock on to your jets last December.
About the TOW, yeah the 4 man portable's.

[Siddharth]

Well, not the first time, we did lock on to your jets last December.

About the TOW, yeah the 4 man portable's.

Don't know what you just tried to pull off from that statement.

For all you know it can be ISI/Pakistani Army supplying Talibs TOW, as they too operate them (which seems more credible source of this weapon)!!! And if you look hard you might also find Chinese made weapons with your Talibs... does that mean Chinese are involved too?

fascinating, isn't it. when you start weaving spy stories there is no end to it.

[XxSilentViruzxX]

You're 100% wrong, on the flight path.

For Pakistan, the path will be in a curve, like fly W-NW in the direction of say Baghdad, and turn N-NW towards Gawadar, then make an approach E-NE.
If she flies as in a-crows-path, then she'll hit Indian Air Space long before she even comes close to Gujrat.

The very fact that India's didn't know about the intrusion shows her flight path wasn't over Indian Air Space to begin with.
Unless it really is a drama, and the plane was intentionally heading for India.

And what else am I implying by "So thinking logically, it is indeed possible that the flight turned around from Karachi to Gujarat in India in order to refuel?" I did say that perhaps the plane entered Indian airspace due to some problems with Karachi ATC, didnt I?

My original intention in this thread was to point out the fact that BGM-71s can and have been used as bunker busters by the US Army, a point that you didnot know about. It was something for you to weigh in before starting conspiracy theories of all kinds, but you changed the course of the discussion from BGM-71s to flight plans and what not.

Yeah, and that says a lot about the flight plan, which silentvirus seems to miss.
Look at his flight plan again, you'll figure what I'm talking about.

If the flight makes a circle, overshooting Karachi, and flying an hour without the ATC contacting him, or him contacting CT for clearance, says a lot too.
No pilot can be that lost in daydreaming, nor the communicators, that they missed 1 hour's of non-communication, yet the jet kept on heading onto 'possible' commercial aircrafts.

The plane was intended for India all along, we have found such sophisticated US equipment from the Talibs.

Now according to you, the plane was headed to India originally, and both the Americans and the Indians are foolish enough to create all this drama when it was supposed to be a secret. You must realize that a consignment of arms of such sort, would be approved at the highest levels of the military forces of both nations and as such there will be people assigned to receive it at a predesignated airport in India. If there was an issue, there would be communication between the US crew abroad the plane, and their seniors in the US, which would lead to a communication between the Americans and the Indians at an official level. This does not take 10 hours, and does not give the Indians enough time to approach the media.
These kind of international exchanges arent a joke to be mishandled by some idiot sitting in the ATC office.

And either way, US is neither going to supply Stryker Armored Carriers nor the BGM-71 TOW to the Taliban . I dont think the taliban is going to find ERAs of much use either.
That leaves US Army in Afghanistan as the only logical option for those weapons.

Now lets not keep arguing fruitlessly over things we dont know of. Neither do you, nor am I, nor is any other arm chair wanna-be general on this forum privy to classified information of this kind. We are a little too old to play with conspiracy theories and argue aimlessly. And please, next time if you reply to me, please do not change the topic of discussion, and if you still want to do that, then at least quote my replies in their entirety so people can see that.

[Shehz]

If you're going to come back with childish refutes, I don't know why I should be compelled to answer you in a serious manner Sidharth.

Pehley flying school jao, aur Flight plan banana seekho.
Then while at it, observe how RT is done.
The pilot when asked to identify said this and that, who do you think you're talking to?

If a flight plan was submitted, then the India ATC would be expecting the scheduled flight (obviously they granted permission to pass through, or did they say when you come in we'll talk about it then?)!.
The bloody transponder on the jet identifies itself, it's not as if a UFO did a zig zag in your airspace.

The Jet is identified by the registration number and/or the flight number, the size specifications etc. every other info is in the transponder.

SilentVirus, please, that transporter need not refuel if the heading was Afghanistan, it's not as if there were passengers who went to D'garcia for summer vacations, and returning home to Karachi.

I'm saying the weapons were meant for India.
You guys need to learn how to lie effectively, Nawaz Sharif can be a great teacher.

[XxSilentViruzxX]

Shehz,

Lets try to clear some misconceptions that you've had from the beginning of this "debate:"

If the munitions were meant for Pakistan, then the flight would'nt be coming in from Afghanistan.

Why will The US need Anti-Tank Munition in Pakistan, for themselves?
Who's Tank or APC's are the US planning to bust!

The flight wasnt coming from Afghanistan, but from Diego Garcia.
BGM-71s are used as bunker busters by the US army in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'm just saying the news is totally misleading, the jet was headed originally for India.

The very fact that India's didn't know about the intrusion shows her flight path wasn't over Indian Air Space to begin with.

The plane was intended for India all along, we have found such sophisticated US equipment from the Talibs.

If a flight plan was submitted, then the India ATC would be expecting the scheduled flight (obviously they granted permission to pass through, or did they say when you come in we'll talk about it then?)!.

So the flight "was originally intended for India" while at the same time "India's didn't know about the intrusion shows her flight path wasn't over Indian Air Space to begin with?" How do those two statements make sense exactly? The flight is supposed to somehow be intended for India while its flight path does not include Indian Air Space? Do the Americans have a habit of flying weapons to any random country without the knowledge of the authorities of that country?

If the flight was indeed meant for India, surely the arrival of a consignment of such importance would be known and approved at the highest levels of the Indian military/Intelligence services. And perhaps they would station a high ranking officer at a predesignated airport to receive it. I mean the American flight crew isn't going to land the plane wherever it is allowed and hand out Strykers and BGM-71 to any slumdog pissing on the runway, right?

If there was an issue, there would be communication between the US crew abroad the plane, and their seniors in the US, which would lead to a communication between the Americans and the Indians at an official level. This does not take 10 hours, and does not give the Indians enough time to approach the media.
These kind of international weapon exchanges aren't a joke to be mishandled by some idiot sitting in the ATC office.
And either way, the US is neither going to supply Stryker Armored Carriers nor the BGM-71 TOW to the Taliban . I dont think the taliban is going to find ERAs of much use either.
That leaves US Army in Afghanistan as the only logical option for those weapons.

Now lets not keep arguing fruitlessly over things we dont know of. Neither do you, nor am I, nor is any other arm chair wanna-be general on this forum privy to classified information of this kind. We are a little too old to play with conspiracy theories and argue aimlessly. And please, next time if you reply to me, please do not change the topic of discussion, and if you still want to do that, then at least quote my replies in their entirety so people can see that.

[Shehz]

God, Virus, you're still debating on my sarcarsm dude!

Let me try and make it easy for you, see the movie Pushing Tin, just the scenes where they show the operations inside the ATC.
How the Flight number pops onto the screen, identifying the aircraft.
Just imagine, if the transponder doesn't identify, then there'll be just a blip on the screen, and IAF will race towards the aircraft, not wait for her to fly few hours in her airspace all the way over Gujrat, flying over bases and ports.
And if the jet was identified by the transponder, then the ATC has just to give her clearance and directions, no need to ask if they already know.
From D'Garcia to Gujrat, the ATC must have had RT with the pilot at-least thrice, and over Gujrat they are asking 'by the way I didn't catch your name'!

Do you see what I'm saying now?
Besides, if the jet was destined for Pakistan, with TOW for our Cobras, the flight plan would be what I described to you earlier, NW-N, N-NW, NE-E, we wouldn't permit military equipment to pass through Indian Airspace to begin with.

For Afghanistan, it would have maintained her altitude and just passed through towards her destination.

The journalist will print what he/she was fed by the Indians, it's an according to news.
That jet was meant for India, and your government had to release some story to corroborate it, as other radar operators were watching their screen as well.

Nothing about the entire drama is making sense, from a flight operations point of view.

You make up your mind, where the jet was heading, and I'll show you how what you say can't be right.

[Jag]

The plane was intended for India all along, we have found such sophisticated US equipment from the Talibs.

Okay for once lets believe it was headed for India, You think Indian are stupid to blow up there own cover? Why would IAF even intercept the aircraft, they would have known to let the airplane come in without any trouble. Media would have no clue of the incident ever happened.!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/hitwall.gif)

[Shehz]

Okay for once lets believe it was headed for India, You think Indian are stupid to blow up there own cover? Why would IAF even intercept the aircraft, they would have known to let the airplane come in without any trouble. Media would have no clue of the incident ever happened.!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/hitwall.gif)

Already answered above, read again.
Whatever you all can think off, has been answered above.

And Let's assume India is innocent, then this episode have shamed the US, as they proabably didn't want us to know about it.
What surprises me the most is that only Indian media came up with this tad bit, our media picked it up from you's, only 1 media.
None other's are even talking about it, including the Americans.

Jag, if it was meant via Karachi, then the flight plan wouldn't be through Indian Airspace, this even you can beleive it.
Unless you still believe that she actually came within Karachi, and kept on flying into India.

Without identification, and flying in a straight path towards mainland India, and your AF realized after it came aboard, com'on!

[XxSilentViruzxX]

God, Virus, you're still debating on my sarcarsm dude!
Do you see what I'm saying now?

Alright you are the expert, so like I said before, I believe you.

Besides, if the jet was destined for Pakistan, with TOW for our Cobras, the flight plan would be what I described to you earlier, NW-N, N-NW, NE-E, we wouldn't permit military equipment to pass through Indian Airspace to begin with.

Alright.

For Afghanistan, it would have maintained her altitude and just passed through towards her destination.

I have shown you that an A-124 would be hard pressed for fuel when flying from Diego Garcia to Kabul while carrying such a heavy load. This was when I calculated the distance that followed a straight line path.

The journalist will print what he/she was fed by the Indians, it's an according to news.

Agreed.

That jet was meant for India, and your government had to release some story to corroborate it, as other radar operators were watching their screen as well.

You got that wrong bubba. I'm no Indian, trust me on that. I only speak when the US or perhaps China is involved.

Nothing about the entire drama is making sense, from a flight operations point of view.

Exactly!! Some things should just be taken at face value especially when we dont know any better. Someone messed up somewhere, thats all. There is no conspiracy. Obviously the US has better ways of getting the weapons to someone in the tribal areas if it wanted.
The Strykers and the TOW dont have to take a stroll across the Indo-Pak border and across Pakistan to get there. If the US was indeed doing that, wouldnt it make sense to use the Afghanistan border?

You make up your mind, where the jet was heading, and I'll show you how what you say can't be right.

I have told you before, I frankly dont care where the jet was heading.
What I know is that the US is neither going to supply Stryker Armored Carriers nor the BGM-71 TOW to the Taliban . I dont think the taliban is going to find ERAs of much use either.
That leaves US Army in Afghanistan as the only logical option for those weapons.
I thought you were a man of logic.

[fanna4paf]

(IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/stupid.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/stupid.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/stupid.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/stupid.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/stupid.gif)

[Shehz]

I have shown you that an A-124 would be hard pressed for fuel when flying from Diego Garcia to Kabul while carrying such a heavy load. This was when I calculated the distance that followed a straight line path.

That leaves US Army in Afghanistan as the only logical option for those weapons.
I thought you were a man of logic.

The Antonov is the largest "Long-Haul" Transport aircraft.
With max Payload it can fly close to 4500 KM, and that would be their record of 132+ Tonnes.
Otherwise she has a range of over 16,000 Km.

A-124 was built to lift multiple battle tanks, hence with Tows and few other ammo, I really believe she could have made it to Kabul.

Now why I think that it's fishy, one reason is that the USAF and army probably has the largest fleet of C-130's.
PAF have quite a few as well.

My logic says, that we'd have used our own transport plane, with our pilots.
Let's see if this is the same plane that made an emmergency arrival at Karachi today and our commondos surrounded her?

[JANA]

Shehz,

Ive said it again, but will say it again, all I wanted to do was to point out the fact that BGM-71s are also used as bunker busters and not necessarily just to "bust tanks or APCs," as you impled in your post.

Now since I am dragged into this discussion about the flight and its whereabouts, it has been reported in an article in this very thread that the flight was on its way from Diego Garcia to Afghanistan. Now flying that route, and looking at the picture, we know that the plane is not going to fly anywhere close to Goa/Mumbai and the article doesnt claim it to have passed Karachi as well. It actually states, and I quote, "The plane headed towards Karachi, then turned and entered Indian airspace."
(IMG:http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7494/save1a.jpg)
The distance shown between Diego Garcia and Kabul is about 2800miles which is about 2440 nautical miles.
The range of AN-124 with about 120 tonne payload is 2430 nautical miles. Even if there was lesser payload, it is quite possible that the plane needed fueling at Karachi but was denied entry due to it having a Russian origin. Lets not forget that Indian Airforce flies Russian planes as well.
So thinking logically, it is indeed possible that the flight turned around from Karachi to Gujarat in India in order to refuel.

The only thing that we can question is the necessity for the plane to land in Mumbai. Granted the plane needs a minimum of 3000mts of runway to land, I find it hard to believe that India does not have anything of that size in Gujarat.

I agree with Shehz.

Look at the map you have posted. By your logic according to the route you claimed to have adopted by the aircraft, It could not have violated the INDIAN airspace in the first place if it had flew from Diago

[must7]

The Antonov is the largest "Long-Haul" Transport aircraft.
With max Payload it can fly close to 4500 KM, and that would be their record of 132+ Tonnes.
Otherwise she has a range of over 16,000 Km.

A-124 was built to lift multiple battle tanks, hence with Tows and few other ammo, I really believe she could have made it to Kabul.

Now why I think that it's fishy, one reason is that the USAF and army probably has the largest fleet of C-130's.
PAF have quite a few as well.

My logic says, that we'd have used our own transport plane, with our pilots.
Let's see if this is the same plane that made an emmergency arrival at Karachi today and our commondos surrounded her?

Shez has pointed out the crux of the issue ! Why a Russian plane in place of a C130 or Pakistani / Us plane ?

[Shehz]

Yaar, Mustu, you should have let them continue with the deliberations.
I wanted Sidharth to come back with control tower said this, and pilot said that, maza aa raha tha.

Imagine that - US weapons in Ukrainian Plane.
Imagine This - Our Weapons in Indian Air Space.

It's like saying North Korea delivered No-Dongs to Iran in US C-130's, and violated Myanmar's Air Space.

[XxSilentViruzxX]

Self Deleted.