Originally Posted by Nightshade

If you explode a plane over a major city you are going to do more damage than doing it over the water. Collateral damage is the key and you want to make sure your enemy takes as much damage as possible, this will ensure that not only the maximum number are injured and die but also the resulting morale drop that is caused surpasses expectation.

It is a very wise tactic, ya crash it in a field and you lose 238 on the flight...drop it in the middle of a city and it can easily be in the thousands.