Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 shot down over Ukraine, 295 dead, 27 Australians on board
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Nick Miller
Europe Correspondent
Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region. Photo: Reuters
The tragedy represents a serious escalation of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and comes only months after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 mysteriously disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was investigating "a number" of Australians abroad the Boeing 777.
“We have grave concerns that a number of Australians may have been on board the flight," DFAT said in a statement. "Officials are urgently working to seek confirmation with relevant authorities."
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200, similar to the one that was shot down, takes off from Los Angeles International Airport. Photo: AP
"If you have any concerns for the welfare of Australian family or friends, you should attempt to directly contact them."
DFAT urged family members "unable to contact" next of kin to call its 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 61 2 6261 3305 from overseas. Within Australia, the number is 1300 555 135.
Bodies and burning wreckage were scattered over the countryside near Donetsk.
An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash. Photo: Reuters
There were also reports of 23 US and nine UK passengers. The flight carried a crew of 15.
US intelligence officials confirmed to American media that a surface-to-air missile brought down the airline. However, which side used the missile was less clear, officials said.
Eastern Ukraine has been roiled for months by a violent pro-Russian separatist uprising in which a number of military aircraft have been downed. But this would be the first commercial airline disaster to result from the hostilities. Despite the turmoil in eastern Ukraine, the commercial airspace over that part of the country is a heavily trafficked route and has remained open.
The site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia Airlines, still reeling from the mysterious loss of another Boeing 777 flight in March, confirmed that Ukrainian air traffic control lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT), approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 left Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called the crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17 a 'terrorist act' and blamed pro-Russian rebels on shooting it down. Photo: Reuters
Online videos showed thick plumes of smoke coming from the crash site.
Ukraine officials and anti-Russian activists claimed it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched by pro-Russian separatists, with one media report blaming Russian-backed Cossack militants. Reports in Russian media pointed to the Ukrainian military.
Freelance journalist Noah Sneider, at the crash site, reported: "Locals say everything exploded in the air, fell in pieces, both bodies and plane itself. People thought they were being bombed."
After the crash other airlines were rerouting flights around the conflict area in eastern Ukraine, where the country has been battling a violent uprising.
Russia’s Life News reported that Malaysian and Netherlands passports had been found at the crash site.
A New York Times reporter at the site said the plane came to rest in a wheatfield. Many of the passengers’ bodies were still belted in their seats and attached to pieces of the plane, she said.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-shot-down-over-ukraine-295-dead-27-australians-on-board-20140718-zu9p2.html#ixzz37lXgDbaB
Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region. Photo: Reuters
The tragedy represents a serious escalation of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and comes only months after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 mysteriously disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was investigating "a number" of Australians abroad the Boeing 777.
“We have grave concerns that a number of Australians may have been on board the flight," DFAT said in a statement. "Officials are urgently working to seek confirmation with relevant authorities."
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200, similar to the one that was shot down, takes off from Los Angeles International Airport. Photo: AP
"If you have any concerns for the welfare of Australian family or friends, you should attempt to directly contact them."
DFAT urged family members "unable to contact" next of kin to call its 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 61 2 6261 3305 from overseas. Within Australia, the number is 1300 555 135.
Bodies and burning wreckage were scattered over the countryside near Donetsk.
An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash. Photo: Reuters
There were also reports of 23 US and nine UK passengers. The flight carried a crew of 15.
US intelligence officials confirmed to American media that a surface-to-air missile brought down the airline. However, which side used the missile was less clear, officials said.
Eastern Ukraine has been roiled for months by a violent pro-Russian separatist uprising in which a number of military aircraft have been downed. But this would be the first commercial airline disaster to result from the hostilities. Despite the turmoil in eastern Ukraine, the commercial airspace over that part of the country is a heavily trafficked route and has remained open.
The site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia Airlines, still reeling from the mysterious loss of another Boeing 777 flight in March, confirmed that Ukrainian air traffic control lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT), approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 left Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called the crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17 a 'terrorist act' and blamed pro-Russian rebels on shooting it down. Photo: Reuters
Online videos showed thick plumes of smoke coming from the crash site.
Ukraine officials and anti-Russian activists claimed it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched by pro-Russian separatists, with one media report blaming Russian-backed Cossack militants. Reports in Russian media pointed to the Ukrainian military.
Freelance journalist Noah Sneider, at the crash site, reported: "Locals say everything exploded in the air, fell in pieces, both bodies and plane itself. People thought they were being bombed."
After the crash other airlines were rerouting flights around the conflict area in eastern Ukraine, where the country has been battling a violent uprising.
Russia’s Life News reported that Malaysian and Netherlands passports had been found at the crash site.
A New York Times reporter at the site said the plane came to rest in a wheatfield. Many of the passengers’ bodies were still belted in their seats and attached to pieces of the plane, she said.
Unfortunate. Tragic.
ReplyDeleteRIP.
This is so very, very sad.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers go to those souls who were on board, and their families.
Amitofo...
Back to more worldly matters.
This is a major, major escalation of the Ukrainian conflict.
MH017 would have been at crusing altitude - 38,000-39,000 feet for a Boeing 777.
That is out of lock-on range for a portable shoulder-fired Infra-red guided Suface to Air Missile ( I think the military call them MANPADS - there are thousands of rogue units floating around in the world).
Whatever was fired at MH017 had to be under a radar lock-on.
That implies Command and Control.
We don't know who did it, but it is clear, it was a deliberate act under somebody's command. It was Not an accident, not some foot soldier in the trenches with an itchy trigger.
Somebody needs to be brought to justice for this.
very good analysis and my exact thoughts as well - there is a (alas) minor report that the intended target was Putin's plane which was in the same area. Thus I would NOT be so quick as to point my finger at pro Russian separatists or pro Russian forces, AU CONTRAIRE!!!
DeleteJust viewed CNN news..... one of the invited commentators said (indignantly) the Russian mainstream TV had put out the 'completely made-up story'....a 'propaganda' about Putin in another plane flying near about the ill-fated MH17 and thus it was the Ukraine who was responsible in bringing down the Malaysian airline as it was trying to shoot at Putin.
DeleteThis should be easy to verify, yes ?
Fact is, with few exceptions , most SAMs don't have very long range.
DeleteSo it almost certainly to be fired from Rebel-controlled territory.
Reports are that the US and its key intelligence partners - UK, Australia , etc. already know who shot down the plane. When, and how much information they reveal we shall see.
Revealing information also reveals intelligence capabilities and methods , something which governments are very careful about.
CNN, wakakaka
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePutin flying over Ukraine conflict war zone ? wakakaka. It is like saying Hamas top leadership and their families staying in Gaza, at the mercy of all the shelling from the Israelis LMAO.....then what are the Palestinian masses are there for, if not to act sacrificial victims to get international support
Deleteyeah? read this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-300106/Hamas-leader-killed-air-strike.html on how the brave Israelis went about killling a wheel-chair bound a quadriplegic who was nearly blind,
DeleteIt is the work of the Ukranian or Russian military which shot down the tragic MAS jet.The separatists or militants do not have such hardware to shoot down aircraft flying over 33k ft high.
ReplyDeleteMost probably it is the Russians as the Ukranians do not have anti aircraft missiles in that area.Besides the separatists or militants do not have fighter jets to fly anyway,so why the Ukranians bother to have anti aircraft artilery there anyway.It is only the Russians that have been shooting down Ukranian aircrafts in that area these last several weeks.
For any crime committed......look at motivation and the capabilities and there you have it.
DeleteIf proven that it is the Russians, or the Russian-backed rebels who shot down MH017, the Russians must be made to pay dearly for it.
ReplyDeleteThe United States should cut off Russia's access to the Dollar system. They have the power to do so, since all international payments conducted in Dollars have to be settled through a bank on American soil.
Lets see how many people will be willing to trade with them in Rubles or Dinars.
yes, Guilty until proven innocent!!!
DeleteHahahahaha! Hahahaha!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtXQTfRFh7o
Well just like USA, Russian is known to be trigger happy.
Why the Fuck was MH017 flying over a Fucking War Zone ?
ReplyDeleteWho the Shit is reponsible ?
Nobody has ever dared do this to an Israeli airliner......you know why ?
ReplyDeleteThe Mossad will make sure the none of the perpetrators getst to die a natural death....none..
Our local jihadists will also track down the perpetrators and make sure they don't die a natural death ? wakakaka .... But alas, their god or prophet were not involved in this issue, so not much chance lah...
DeleteWe need Bomoh again to get to the bottom of this tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI can already foresee the investigation will be stonewalled behind a thicket of international politics - USA, Russia have a big footprint in this.
provide him with the obligatory two coconuts and bamboo binoculars, and most importantly, lots of ringgit
Deletek t
ReplyDeletebetter to believe russian today
Didnt the same barbarians shot down korean airways
Aint the same barbarians swore they didnt have the blackboxes and only to reveal that ten years later they were lying?
You think these barbarians have changed for the better?
The USS Vincennes shot down an Iran Air airbus airline (Flight 665) taking off and climbing to cruise altitude (not diving down at the ship) in Iranian airspace while the USN cruiser was in Iranian territorial waters, and killed 290 passengers and crew. The USA refused to apologize, and subsequently even awarded the ship's captain with the Legion of Merit award, this despite the captain being severely criticized for gungho trigger-happiness by his USN colleagues/peers who were there with him in the Gulf.
DeleteYou're right, the barbarians haven't changed