New | Timeline: The tragic history of civilian airliners shot down since the cold war
In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 tragedy, here are some cases of civilian airliners being shot down by armed forces since the end of the second world war.
El Al Flight 402, July 27, 1955. Bulgarian Mig jets shot down an El Al flight from Vienna to Tel Aviv via Istanbul, after the propliner strayed into Bulgarian airspace and refused to land. All 58 crew and passengers on board the Lockheed L-049 Constellation were killed.
Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114. February 21, 1973. The Boeing 727 flying from Tripoli to Cairo was shot down by Israeli fighter jets over the Sinai dessert. All but four of the 112 people on board were killed. The Israeli air force intervened after the Boeing flew over military facilities in the Sinai, then occupied by Israel. Israeli authorities said fighters opened fire when the plane refused to land.
Korean Air Lines Flight 902, April 20, 1978. Russian fighter jets shot down the Boeing 707-321B plane en route from Paris to Seoul after it entered Soviet airspace and failed to respond to the Russian communications. The plane made an emergency landing on a frozen lake. 107 passengers and crew survived, and two passengers were killed.