The plane’s altitude is not given in the article. If they are five or ten miles from the airport, they would be much lower. That’s the logical place for guys with shoulder-fired missiles to hang out, because they know the planes have to come in for the approach.
My question is why the missile didn’t lock on the plane. I can’t believe they are using primitive non-computerized missiles.
Possibly they underestimated the distance and the missile ran out of fuel before hitting the aircraft.
I find it incredible that a passenger jet could evade an air to ground missile on approach, especially given that the "passengers were never told". That would have been one head snapping maneuver. Missiles can turn a lot faster than manned aircraft because missiles can withstand 20+ g's, humans cannot.