Heat Flash Detected Before Russian Plane Crash
A midair heat flash from Metrojet Flight 9268 was detected by a U.S. military satellite before the plane crashed.
According to a CNN report, a midair heat flash from Metrojet Flight 9268 was detected by a U.S. military satellite before the plane crashed Oct. 31, raising the possibility that a bomb could have caused the crash. All 224 people on the flight were killed.
Heat flashes could also be tied to a malfunctioning engine exploding or a structural problem that caused a fire on the plane. Aviation experts believe a technical malfunction is the most likely scenario.
"The number of heat signatures is crucial," said aviation analyst Miles O'Brien. "If, in fact, only one was detected, that in some respects might steer one away from a missile launch and onto some idea of an explosion on board the aircraft."
The Russian and Egyptian governments are investigating the crash, as well as aviation investigators from France and Germany, where the plane was manufactured.