The crash of a >Malaysian Airlines passenger aircraft over Ukraine (July 18) shows that the internal conflict in Ukraine is fast spiralling out of control. It may have been a tragic mistake and it could take several weeks to know if there was a Ukrainian or Russian hand in it. Given the evidence so far, an internal dispute being allowed to lead to the killing of innocent nationals of other countries and hitting global air travel is unacceptable. The EU, the U.S., Ukraine and Russia need to step back from the brink.
F.A. Sulthanbi,
Madurai
It is increasingly evident that the acts of politicians across the globe result in grave consequences for millions of ordinary people. The new Cold War and the Israel-Palestinian crisis are examples. At what price are issues being fought without even a semblance of peace in sight? The U.N. is clearly toothless. While our prayers and sympathies are with the families of the passengers, it is earnestly hoped that the world community would work towards peace.
A. Saratchandran Menon,
Palakkad
Safety in international air travel depends to a large extent on global cooperation and putting in place robust protocols to protect civilian aircraft and passengers from being targeted in conflict zones, either by intent or by mistake. The International Civil Aviation Organisation, the global regulator of air travel, must rise to the occasion and tighten operational procedures with the help of technology. More importantly, it must form expert teams to investigate the incident and ensure that the families of the passengers of MH 17 get justice in the International Criminal Court.
V.N. Mukundarajan,
Thiruvananthapuram
The incident brought back the horrors of the Cold War and, separately, the destruction of PanAm Flight 103 in 1988 over Lockerbie. Why does mindless violence persist unabated?
S. Srimoolanathan,
El Dorado, California
The crime is one of the worst perpetrated against humanity. Airlines must avoid troubled territories irrespective of the economics involved. Everyone wants a safe flight over fuel cost savings.
G. Ramachandran,
Thiruvananthapuram
The area appears to be a wild frontier with rebels talking about the ease with which they can and have brought down aircraft earlier. Why civilian air traffic was allowed to continue to fly over the conflict zone is beyond comprehension. With the Ukraine government and Russia busy trading charges over culpability and the West adding fuel to the fire, the world needs to quickly know who was responsible for this inhuman act. It is tragic that Malaysia has to deal with a series of unfortunate incidents.
C.A.C. Murugappan,
Kothamangalam
