[NJ_gent]

"what are the other 300 that come to mind for you, except midair collision."

Bizarre coincidental mechanical failures. Mistaken news reports (one place down, other fine or never existed). Attack by the state of Georgia. (There was a story about a possible war erupting between Georgia and Russia posted earlier today) Extreme weather conditions we haven't been made aware of yet (sudden air pressure changes in a localized area).

There are a lot of possibilities that are as likely or more likely than a coordinated terrorist attack successfully downing two jets in Russia. I'm not discounting terrorism - merely saying that jumping to that conclusion with only preliminary data available isn't necessarily the best idea. We don't all have intelligence chiefs reporting to us. :-)

[discostu]

With current reports being they took off form the same airport gross incompitence by the ground crew is also a possibility.

[Wolfstar]

There are a lot of possibilities that are as likely or more likely than a coordinated terrorist attack successfully downing two jets in Russia.

Why do you think it's so implausible? After all, a coordinated terrorist attack successfully downed FOUR jets here just under three years ago.