14:12 Jul-05-02, 25 Tammuz 5762
Minister Sneh Says the El Al Pilot Saw a Missile (IsraelNN.com)
Minister of Transportation Ephraim Sneh stated on Friday afternoon that he has debriefed the pilot of the El Al flight who reported seeing a surface-to-air missiles explode near the plane last night while in international air space over Russia. Sneh, a retired IDF brigadier-general explained the El Al pilot is a veteran Israel Air Force fighter pilot, a person who knows how to differentiate between aeronautical or weather entities and a missile.
Mr. Sneh stated that the pilot's report is credible, adding the missile exploded kilometers from the plane. The minister added that at this time, there is no reason to believe the firing of the missile was an act intended to down the plane
He's kidding, right? Why fire a SAM if you *don't* intend to bring a plane down?
This has got to be the dumbest thing I've heard so far today!