Austin wrote:Singha wrote:why was this F-14 yahoo trying to scare a transport plane, not even a LRMP or ELINT bird.
just because he was american and allowed to be a yahoo?
You wont know if this was ELINT or similar other plane if the transponder is off then the fighter needs to go close and check the type in question , The getting close is the tricky part specially if you are deep in the ocean and in Intl Waters , Lot of accidents can happen inadvertently
The fact that India was ferrying AN-32s purchased from russia via the gelf was well known.
This "accident" happened fairly soon after the takeoff of the AN-32 and it undoubtedly happened in international waters.
WTF does the US need to know who is flying on a declared international route and that too with a valid flight plan??
in those days, Indian planes getting buzzed in all sorts of places was very routine and all it takes is some hot shot, wet behind the ears moron in the cockpit of the US plane itching for an extreme close up of the "enemy" aircraft.
We used to see this all the time. Those yokels would perform "aerobatics" to intimidate the natives.
Ferry always takes place with the transponder on and a valid flight plan filed well in advance with the active involvement of the local embassy staff, who invariably receive and also see off the aircraft.
Arrangements for crew stay, diplomatic clearances, purchase of fuel and other billed airport services cannot be kept secret.
Anyone with a binoc will be able to see who is coming and going and all it takes to monitor is a really cheap, home brew receiver set to the correct frequency. This sort of receiver can be built by a reasonably intelligent kid.
Getting close to another aircraft is ALWAYS tricky, especially if the other guy does not know that you are there or he is not expecting it, like, say, when on an innocent passage, on a documented and legally flight planned international ferry and in international airspace.
Ultimately, physics was to blame.
Wrong place and a wrong time.