Russia Denies Its Military Aircraft Nearly Collided With Passenger Jet Over Sweden

[Hockey Dad]

8. Sept 1, 1983

Yuri Andropov was already on what would prove to be his deathbed, while Konstantin Chernenko, his eventual "successor," was not far behind. The fact of the matter is that, at that time, Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri Ustinov, a man in vastly more robust health than either Andropov or Chernenko, was ascendant in the Politburo. Thus, it is not really surprising that the fighter pilot, whose name escapes me, was ordered to shoot the plane down.

These circumstances render even more remarkable the actions--or, rather, the INACTIONS--of Stanislav Petrov less than four weeks later!