First thing that popped into my mind also. One of the original news breaks identified it as “ a hand held missile”. I know some of Freepers are very familiar with this technology, is it possible to bring down an airliner with a hand held? Or does it require a much more sophisticated system?
MANPADs could do it...stinger maybe.
Not if the jetliner is at latitude and speed. Now on approach or takeoff then yes a manpad is easily capable of taking out a jetliner. This one was taken out by Russian military ground to air missile battery. Big oops for the Russians, they should know better.