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Was there enough difference in their routes and the route of this flight that they would seem to be headed toward a different destination (i.e. noticeably different heading)?

Were these other flights present when Su25s were hitting the units surrounding the trapped Mech Brigade at the same time they passed over this area?

Does Ukraine itself, the Kiev government, still have civilian flights of their own flying over this area? On the same or similar heading?

What are the odds Separatists ignored those other flights because there none of the activity around the surrounded unit that usually takes place to suppress AA fire before a transport comes in there to land or lowers altitude to drop supplies?

My asking goes to "state of mind" among the Separatists, not to whether or not they fired and are guilty of the shoot down. I don't see how it could anyone else unless someone can show me the Ukraine NG or Army operating the same type of system. Even then, if it's not the whole Gadfly ball of wax you'd have to prove intent because in all likelihood they would have IFF information available.

Nothing about this is black and white except the extremely high probability that the Separatists did the shooting and the significantly much lower probability it was anyone except the Separatists..

JMHO

This image is sourced from Flight Radar 24. It has the actual and proposed flight plan.

Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight path map
http://www.theguardian.com/world/graphic/2014/jul/18/malaysia-mh17-flight-path-map-ukraine#

The article below said the flight plan deviated from the flight paths earlier in the week. I’ve read it was weather related, but the article doesn’t mention it. The Ukrainians need to allow the air traffic communication to be heard.

AVIATION EXPERT: Malaysia Flight Took A Significantly Different Route Than The Usual Course