In the beyond-visual-range ( BVR ) , one of the Iraqi MiGs , piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Zuhair Dawood , fired Use_firearm an R-40 missile , shooting down Use_firearm one of the F/A-18 's as it was travelling Traveling Mach 0.92 .

Israel 's Iron Dome missile defense Defending system intercepted Preventing_or_letting many of the Palestinian-launched projectiles aimed Aiming at large cities , shooting down Use_firearm 56 rockets in 71 attempts .

Immediately after the crash Catastrophe , a post appeared Coming_to_be on the VKontakte social media profile attributed Causation to Igor Girkin , leader of the Donbass separatist militia , claiming Statement responsibility for shooting down Use_firearm a Ukrainian An-26 military transporter near Torez .

This post was removed Removing later the same day , and the separatists then denied Agree_or_refuse_to_act shooting down Use_firearm any aircraft .