Surface-to-air missiles are not magic. Their operating limits are well known. This aircraft was flying far above their maximum altitude capabilities. Only a large SAM battery has that capability. Getting one of those SAM batteries on large military vehicles into the Sinai and operating its required radar guidance systems is virtually impossible to do without immediate detection. Furthermore, the shrapnel from such a missile’s warhead is immediately recognizable in the target’s fuselage, and the photographs and witness reports seem to exclude the presence of such shrapnel. So, anyone proposing ISIS used a missile to shoot down this airliner has a lot of explaining to do before the idea can be given any credibility whatsoever.
This past weekend, having been busy, did not pay too much attention to the news report of the crashed Russian plane, but right after news came out, ISIS jumped right into it to say they downed that plane. Must of been for the Arab street.