If they truly did interfere with free transit of the head of any state over this, I am surprised.

Shoot downs are not unheard of tho. Your comment made me recall when the Russians took down KAL 007 in the 80s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_007

200+ people on that including a member of US government.

Yes. They've murdered presidents before.

The international uproar over a shoot down would likely be of little comfort to the dead pilot.