[lightman]

I have also read reports that the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) was not functioning.

No IFF + off course would prima facie indicate a hijacking.

After 9/11/01 no responsible government can afford that risk, especially for an aircraft originating from a Muslim nation.

[Teacher317]

If that pathetic excuse held any water, then the “responsible government” would admit that they did it.

[xone]

Wouldn't have made a difference, IFF if used can only ID a friendly. Additionally, whoever pulled the trigger on the SAM didn't care who or what the target was.

No IFF + off course would prima facie indicate a hijacking

No it doesn't. Friend/foe ID is nation specific. Even a non-squawk on a transponder doesn't mean that. Not sqawking doesn't mean you are invisible, just means there is no altitude readout on the ground station.

[reg45]

I read somewhere that the Russian version of IFF is limited to identifying Russian vs. Not-Russian. So a Malaysian airliner would show up as Not-Russian as would a Ukrainian aircraft.

[Hulka]

“I have also read reports that the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) was not functioning.”

Commercial airlines do not have an IFF. Military does. Commercial has a transponder that enhances the radar return and transmits flight parameters and flight ID.

“No IFF + off course would prima facie indicate a hijacking.”

Not so. It happens.

7700 squawk on the transponder is prima faci of hijacking.

Squawking 7600 is indication of loss of com.

Being ‘off course’ and not squawking are not indications of a hijacking, not at all. Aviation professionals would view such an incident are a likely electrical failure or degradation of some sort.

“After 9/11/01 no responsible government can afford that risk, especially for an aircraft originating from a Muslim nation”

Flight originated from the Netherlands.