The fatal accident, which killed 132 people, comes at a time of geopolitical tension and sensitivities are heightened because it involves China's state-owned airline & largest US exporter.
The MU5735 crash that killed 132 Chinese is a tragedy, but there is no end to conspiracy theories in a world rife with disinformation. Weibo is replete with them.
While there have been a handful of crashes in which an airliner plunged from cruising altitude, few, if any, fit the extreme profile of the Boeing 737-800.
The six-year-old single-aisle jet is part of the NG, or Next Generation, era that preceded the 737 Max, which was subjected to a global grounding after two deadly crashes.
The C-17 can carry large combat equipment & troops or undertake humanitarian aid. Besides India & the US, it is also in service with Qatar, Kuwait, UK, Australia, UAE & Canada.
Boeing is slimming down its manufacturing base around Seattle & planning to close a production line, as the aircraft market has been gutted by the pandemic.
Armenia has procured significant defence equipment from India, including artillery guns, multi-barrel rocket launchers, air defence system, sniper rifles, weapons locating radars, anti-drone weapons.
The key to fighting a war successfully, or even launching it, is a clear objective. That’s an entirely political call. It isn’t emotional or purely military.
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