how long does it take a surface to air missile to go from the ground to a passenger jet?

how long does it take a surface to air missile to go from the ground to a passenger jet?

fiction
edward w pritchard

If you were in a passenger jet plane looking out the window could you see a missile fired from the ground if you were 33,000 feet above ground? If you could see the missile leave the ground would you deduce that anyone would fire a missile at a plane carrying 300 civilians?

While you sat in your seat in horror watching the flash of a missile approaching your jet plane and your seat would you have time to make a quick email or write a note? Would you perhaps try to move around the plane to make yourself more safe? Would you try to "climb in the back with your head in the clouds and your gone" [1]?

How long does it take a surface to air missile to go from the ground to a passenger jet at 33,000 thousand feet? If you saw the missile approaching would you feel the initial contact one second before explosion occurred?

What would flash across your mind as your last thought and what would you think of anyone who could shoot at a plane full of innocent civilians headed overseas for their annual vacation?

Flying in a jet plane as a civilian passenger and being shot from the air by teen age idiots playing soldier. It's a horrible way to die.

1. Beatles " Lucy in sky with diamonds"