Luke LaManna

In 13 years of flying, he'd never been ordered to fire warning shots like this. But once again, Osipovich did as he was told. He fired the shots, but in the dark sky, they went unnoticed by the mysterious plane. Osipovich didn't know it, but he was firing at Korean Air Flight 007.

At that moment, inside the dimly lit cabin of flight 007, most of the passengers were stealing their last moments of sleep before breakfast service started. The long-haul flight had been uneventful, with only the steady drone of engines as company. From the cockpit, the crew could only see the vast expanse of ink-black sky outside their windows.

At that moment, inside the dimly lit cabin of flight 007, most of the passengers were stealing their last moments of sleep before breakfast service started. The long-haul flight had been uneventful, with only the steady drone of engines as company. From the cockpit, the crew could only see the vast expanse of ink-black sky outside their windows.

Following their flight plan, they had received clearance from air traffic control to ascend another 2,000 feet. The crew adjusted the autopilot settings, and the Boeing 747 began its gradual climb, its speed temporarily decreasing as part of the maneuver. The change was so subtle that the sleeping passengers remained completely unaware of their ascent.

Following their flight plan, they had received clearance from air traffic control to ascend another 2,000 feet. The crew adjusted the autopilot settings, and the Boeing 747 began its gradual climb, its speed temporarily decreasing as part of the maneuver. The change was so subtle that the sleeping passengers remained completely unaware of their ascent.

Major Osipovich's eyes narrowed as he continued to track the enemy plane on his radar. He watched the aircraft climb, and to his surprise, its speed dropped significantly. Caught off guard by this abrupt change, Osipovich found himself overtaking his target. His Su-15 interceptor jet, which was designed for high-speed pursuit, zoomed past the larger, slower-moving plane.

Major Osipovich's eyes narrowed as he continued to track the enemy plane on his radar. He watched the aircraft climb, and to his surprise, its speed dropped significantly. Caught off guard by this abrupt change, Osipovich found himself overtaking his target. His Su-15 interceptor jet, which was designed for high-speed pursuit, zoomed past the larger, slower-moving plane.

As he banked hard to circle back, Osipovich thought it was obvious that the intruder was making an evasive maneuver. He flew in close enough to see that the plane had four engines. It definitely looked like a commercial American plane, but it made no sense that a plane like that, with sophisticated navigation, could end up so far off course.

As he banked hard to circle back, Osipovich thought it was obvious that the intruder was making an evasive maneuver. He flew in close enough to see that the plane had four engines. It definitely looked like a commercial American plane, but it made no sense that a plane like that, with sophisticated navigation, could end up so far off course.

He couldn't make out the writing on the fin, but he could see a row of dark windows on the side. Osipovich believed this had to be a spy plane disguised as a passenger aircraft, which the Americans sometimes used for reconnaissance. Osipovich was sweating now. It seemed inevitable there would be a confrontation. After about 10 minutes, he was cruising behind the aircraft again, ready to fire.

He couldn't make out the writing on the fin, but he could see a row of dark windows on the side. Osipovich believed this had to be a spy plane disguised as a passenger aircraft, which the Americans sometimes used for reconnaissance. Osipovich was sweating now. It seemed inevitable there would be a confrontation. After about 10 minutes, he was cruising behind the aircraft again, ready to fire.

But the enemy plane was heading out of Soviet airspace, and he was still awaiting orders on what to do next. It felt like every second was racing by, and his window of opportunity was rapidly collapsing. Osipovich knew that orders were moving up the ranks from the captains to the lieutenant colonels to the generals. Each moment ticked by. And then, finally, he got the message. Destroy the target.

But the enemy plane was heading out of Soviet airspace, and he was still awaiting orders on what to do next. It felt like every second was racing by, and his window of opportunity was rapidly collapsing. Osipovich knew that orders were moving up the ranks from the captains to the lieutenant colonels to the generals. Each moment ticked by. And then, finally, he got the message. Destroy the target.

Osipovich held his breath. Then he launched two missiles, one heat-seeking and one radar-controlled. Each of them contained 88 pounds of explosives. The heat-seeker hit the left wing of the target, and the radar-controlled missile hit the rear. The plane stayed aloft momentarily, then Osipovich reported to ground control that it had been destroyed. He turned and flew back to his base.

Osipovich held his breath. Then he launched two missiles, one heat-seeking and one radar-controlled. Each of them contained 88 pounds of explosives. The heat-seeker hit the left wing of the target, and the radar-controlled missile hit the rear. The plane stayed aloft momentarily, then Osipovich reported to ground control that it had been destroyed. He turned and flew back to his base.

He had just taken down a commercial aircraft, Korean Air Flight 007. The following morning, on September 1st, 1983, Secretary of State George Shultz rushed to the White House soon after finding out about the attack. At 10.45, he addressed the nation on TV.

He had just taken down a commercial aircraft, Korean Air Flight 007. The following morning, on September 1st, 1983, Secretary of State George Shultz rushed to the White House soon after finding out about the attack. At 10.45, he addressed the nation on TV.

President Reagan was also outraged. The consensus at the White House was that the Korean Airlines shooting exposed the Soviets as a cruel and savage enemy, thirsty for capitalist blood. They knew the plane was filled with civilians, but shot it down anyway. Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force intelligence determined that a combination of factors led the plane off course.

President Reagan was also outraged. The consensus at the White House was that the Korean Airlines shooting exposed the Soviets as a cruel and savage enemy, thirsty for capitalist blood. They knew the plane was filled with civilians, but shot it down anyway. Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force intelligence determined that a combination of factors led the plane off course.

The autopilot might have been set slightly off, and over time the navigation system gradually drifted without the crew realizing it. And coincidentally, earlier that day, a genuine American military reconnaissance aircraft had been detected in the vicinity.