[willyone]

why shoot down a landing aircraft? A fully loaded 747 leaving for the Far East would be the ideal target. Three quarters of a million pounds of fuel, aircraft and people crashing into a crowded area would be a terrorists ideal statement. Throw in some car bombs outside a few terminals at the same time and the air travel industry is history.

[Semper Paratus]

why shoot down a landing aircraft? A fully loaded 747 leaving for the Far East would be the ideal target.

What about the Shuttle. An SA-7, Stinger has a range of 3- 5 miles and up to 13,000 ft. altitude.
Launchs are always televised, one is going up today.