Silent Killers: How Stolen Shoulder-Fired Missiles Endanger U.S. Airliners

As commercial airliners landed, black-market missiles lurked in the shadows—unseen, untracked, and deadly- until the elite CIA team raided the warehouse

     When people think about threats to air travel, they usually picture hijackers or suicide bombers. But there’s another danger that flies under the radar—literally. Shoulder-fired missiles, known as MANPADS, are small, deadly, and shockingly easy to get ahold of. These heat-seeking weapons can take down a plane from over three miles away, and here’s the really scary part: thousands of them are completely unaccounted for, circulating through black markets in some of the world’s most chaotic regions.

     U.S. intelligence has been waving the red flag on this for years, trying to get other countries on board to help track these missiles before they land in the wrong hands. And the numbers? Straight-up terrifying. There are anywhere between 500,000 and 750,000 MANPADS out there, and at least 7,500 of them have completely vanished off the grid—nobody knows where they are or who has them. The U.S. has sold its own version, the Stinger missile, to allies around the world, but according to a scathing Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, the Pentagon has done a terrible job keeping track of them. And it’s not just Stingers—30 different countries make their own versions, which means trying to control the global stockpile is basically a lost cause.

     Things went from bad to worse after Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed in 2003. U.S. intelligence estimates that thousands of MANPADS were either stolen or handed out to Iraqi security forces with little to no oversight. A lot of those weapons likely fell into the hands of insurgents, flooding black markets and making it even easier for terrorists to get their hands on them. The chaos didn’t stop there—rising instability in North Africa has only made the situation messier, giving terrorist groups even more opportunities to grab these deadly weapons and use them against commercial airliners.

     And this isn’t just some far-fetched scenario. More than 40 planes have been hit by MANPADS over the years, leading to 24 crashes and over 600 deaths. Most of these attacks happened in war zones, but then came the 2002 incident in Mombasa, Kenya, when terrorists tried (and thankfully failed) to shoot down an Israeli charter jet. That was the moment governments realized commercial planes were officially on the hit list. And if there’s one thing we know about groups like al Qaeda and ISIS, it’s that they never stop looking for new, devastating ways to strike.

     In Operation Skyfall, a fast-paced, short-story spy thriller you can tear through in just 25 minutes, this danger isn’t just talk—it’s happening in real time. CIA operative Corey Pearson and his elite team are in a race against the clock to stop domestic terrorists from using stolen MANPADS to take down a passenger jet over Miami. The tension is off the charts—missiles are locked and loaded, the plane is packed with over 300 people (including VIPs), and there are only seconds left before disaster strikes. This isn’t just an action-packed story; it’s a chillingly realistic look at how intelligence agencies battle these threats in real life. The black-market weapons trade isn’t just some distant problem—it’s lurking a lot closer to home than most people realize.

     So, what’s the U.S. doing about it? Efforts are underway to address the threat, but solutions aren’t easy—or cheap. The Department of Homeland Security has been exploring missile countermeasures for commercial airliners, such as infrared decoys to confuse heat-seeking missiles. But installing these systems on every U.S. plane could cost up to $10 billion, a financial burden that airlines argue they simply can’t afford. There’s also the issue of who would pay for it—should the government foot the bill, or should airlines take responsibility? So far, no concrete plan has been put in place.

     Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are working around the clock to track these weapons, teaming up with foreign governments to secure loose stockpiles and stop them from slipping into the wrong hands. But this isn’t just an overseas problem—terrorists have already tried to smuggle MANPADS into the U.S., and in at least two cases since 9/11, they nearly succeeded. One of the most alarming incidents happened in 2003 when an international arms dealer, Hemant Lakhani, was caught in an FBI sting operation. Lakhani thought he was selling a Russian-made Igla missile to terrorists planning to shoot down a commercial airliner.

     In reality, he was dealing with undercover agents, and he was arrested in New Jersey after delivering a sample missile and promising more. The bust exposed just how real the threat is—black-market missiles aren’t just a problem for war zones; they could end up in America’s backyard. The risk isn’t going away, and intelligence agencies know they have to stay one step ahead.

     That’s exactly why Operation Skyfall hits so close to home. The novel takes readers deep into the murky world of arms smuggling and homegrown terrorism, where the line between foreign and domestic threats is increasingly blurred. With a cast of CIA operatives each bringing their own expertise to the table—whether it’s high-tech surveillance, undercover infiltration, or direct-action missions—the story offers a gripping yet disturbingly realistic look at the lengths intelligence agencies must go to in order to keep the skies safe.

     As these deadly weapons keep spreading, the U.S. and its allies can’t afford to sit back and hope for the best. Stopping MANPADS from falling into the wrong hands isn’t just some military or government issue—it’s about keeping you and your loved ones safe every time you step onto a plane.

     Intelligence agencies are in a constant race against time, working behind the scenes to track these missiles before they’re used in an attack. Because here’s the hard truth: if they fail, it won’t just be a headline on the news—it could be a tragedy that hits way too close to home.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and an accomplished author. He writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Short Story, blending his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.