TEL AVIV, Israel, July 5 (UPI) -- A missile, apparently fired from the Ukraine, exploded within sight of an El Al jetliner, officials said Friday.
The pilot of the flight, a Boeing 757 carrying 179 passengers and crew from Tel Aviv to Moscow, reported the blast Thursday night, but could not estimate how far from his plane the explosion took place. The aircraft continued to Russia and landed safely, officials said.
The plane was about 160 miles south of Dinpropetrovs'k and flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet when the pilot radioed headquarters that he saw a missile climb from the ground and explode at a higher altitude than his aircraft, according to journalist Mikki Gurdus who specializes in listening to radio communications and picked up the conversation. El Al would not reveal the pilot's name.
Gurdus reported that the pilot said there was a very big explosion but could not estimate the distance from his plane because of darkness.
Transport Minister Ephraim Sneh said Friday he had talked to the plane's captain who is a veteran fighter pilot and has seen anti-aircraft missile launchings. "He said that what he saw looked like a missile that exploded in the air," Sneh said.
Israeli media Friday quoted the Ukrainians as saying they hadn't fired any missiles.
Last October the Ukrainians fired an anti-aircraft missile that downed a Siberian TU-154 on its from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk and killed the 78 people who had been on board.
The Ukrainians denied having shot down the Siberian plane but the U.S. satellites spotted the launch and Kiev eventually admitted its missile downed the aircraft.
Sneh said Israel planned to investigate the matter with the local authorities and to seek the help of other "elements."
