Save a little gas...

...get people killed:

On March 5 this year, a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) advisory was issued to airlines, warning against flying within Dnipropetrovsk airspace because of the potential dangers posed by the ongoing conflict. All US airlines and most European airlines have since avoided that airspace and another air corridor over Crimea, which is also deemed to be unsafe for civilian flights. A senior aviation source told Sky News that European and US carriers have been increasingly avoiding these high risk areas, but some Asian airlines still route through this airspace.

[A senior aviation source said]: "Of course there are cost implications for airlines in having to route further north or south of these restricted areas, but passenger safety outweighs any cost concerns. Although the safety advice is to avoid these areas, there is no ban on an airline taking such routes if they decide to. However, most Western airlines have decided it's simply not worth the risk."

If I decide to rent a convertible and drive through a crime-ridden neighborhood -- say, the Third Ward in Houston -- at 10pm on a Friday night, whereupon I get shot and the rental car stolen, who is to blame? Oh, certainly the people who shot me and stole the car are criminals; I'm not disputing that. But I made the decision to go in harm's way.

At this point, I'd argue it doesn't matter whether the Russians, the separatists, or the Ukrainians shot the plane down. That is a fait accompli. But if I had a relative on that airplane, I'd be suing Malaysian Airlines right out of business. Because if they did indeed fly through a war zone to save gas and thereby increase their profit margin, then to Hell with them and everybody who works for them. If you deliberately and knowingly endanger your customers who have trusted you with their lives and PAID YOU AS SUCH, breaking that trust means you need to go out of business -- and I mean Right Fucking Now. This is one of those rare instances when trial lawyers actually serve the greater good.