Are they basically just there to shoot down the plane before causes larger casualties by crashing into a heavily populated area? I can’t imagine what else a jet can do to a large commercial aircraft in the air.
Are they basically just there to shoot down the plane before causes larger casualties by crashing into a heavily populated area? I can’t imagine what else a jet can do to a large commercial aircraft in the air.
It’s crazy they scrambled with zero offensive capabilities back then. Not even the 20mm cannon was loaded.
They weren’t scrambled if I remember correctly. They were airborne for a training mission and closer than the scrambled jets were. That’s why they had no munitions
Source: Talked to a pilot who’s instructor was one of those pilots