That doesn't change the fact that they wouldn't have shot a missile with commercial airliners around. Radar tests are one thing, firing a missile in an area thick with civilian traffic is totally different. That's the kind of negligence that doesn't just get you cashiered; it gets you cashiered, beaten with broomhandles, and mauled by dogs before they even drag your sorry carcass before the courts martial.
There is no way that the USN would have shot down TWA 800 and then tried to cover it up. No way. The world and the Navy just don't work that way.
You really need to understand how this works.
I am a pilot. I have aeronautical charts which have specially marked areas just south of where TWA 800 went down which contain the legend: "Warning. National Defense Operating Areas. Operations hazardous to the flight of aircraft conducted within these areas."
Pilot's flying visually are expected to find out whether such areas are "active" and avoid them if they are. The area I am referring to just south of where TWA 800 went down is active about three times a year. It was active that evening.
Pilots flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are told where to fly by air traffic controllers (ATC) and the ATC are expected by IFR pilots to give routes that avoid restricted areas. All commercial flights, including TWA 800, are required to operate under IFR.
The area in question extends up to 15,000 feet. Planes bound for Europe from JFK, like TWA 800 are normally at 19,000 feet five minutes before reaching this area. TWA 800 was ordered up to 19,000 feet, but then held at 13,000 feet by ATC to avoid any conflict with a plane inbound to Providence. The controller screwed up. He should not have allowed TWA 800 to proceed so close to this operations areas at 13,000 feet.
It sort of helps to know what you're talking about when you talk about aviation accidents. "Radar tests" are not "hazardous to the flight of aircraft." The Navy has a record of cover-ups including the USS Liberty incident and others.
ML/NJ