A Malaysian airliner was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 298 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides.
Rival Claims Over Crashed Malaysia Plane's RecordersAs Russia, Ukraine and the rebels who are battling to break away from it denied responsibility Friday for the downing of a civilian jetliner, a dispute emerged over who seized the plane's flight recorders, which could shed light on the plane's last moments.
Barack Obama Speaks on MH17 Crash:- 300 innocent lives were taken. One American citizen was killed.
- I will talk to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott later today, Australia also suffered a loss.
- I want Dutch people to know that we stand with them.
- The aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
- Offer support for a full investigation into MH17 crash
- Ukraine and Russia must reach an immediate ceasefire deal
- US will continue to support territorial integrity of Ukraine
Pro-Russian separatists fired missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines plane. Assessment on MH17 crash is not final, analysts are still investigating: United States
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans on MH17 crash:- 'Travelling to Ukraine, wish to have free access to crash site'
- 'Netherlands will send team to crash site, we need all the facts'
- 'Suspect that the missile is Russian made'
Malaysian Airlines on the MH17 Crash:- Malaysian Airlines lost contact with the plane at 14:15 GMT
- Aircraft went down 500 kilometers from Kiev - extremely difficult terrain.
- Working to find out cause of the accident.
- It is an extremely complex operation, many nationalities and multiple authorities involved.
- Have spoken to next of Kin and they have been accommodated at a hotel.
- $ 5000 per passenger will be paid to the next of kin.
- Being assisted by Dutch government.
- Other international airlines were flying simultaneously through that airspace.
- It could have happened to any of the airlines flying through the region.
- Along with other airlines, we're now flying different routes and avoiding Ukrainian airspace.
- The Boeing 777-200, involved in the incident, had a clean maintenance record.
- Aircraft was manufactured in 1997 and had 17 years of service.
- Last check was on 11th July. Next check was due on 27th of August.
- All communication systems were functioning normally at that point.
Ukraine rebels claim to have 'most' of the data recording devices of crashed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17: Associated Press
Ukraine Rebels to Provide Access to Plane Crash Site: Rights BodyPro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have agreed to provide assistance in an investigation into the downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner and will ensure safe access for international experts visiting the site, The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said on Friday.
Malaysian government on flight MH17 crash- Essential that crash site integrity is preserved.
- Want an independent probe.
- Nationalities of 21 passengers not verified.
- There were no last-minute instructions given to MH17 pilots to change the route.
Air India, Jet, Qantas, Lufthansa, KLM among the 15 airlines avoiding Ukraine airspace after crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17
'Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crash not an accident but a crime. Owe it to the victims, families to establish truth': Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott
British Prime Minister David Cameron to chair emergency meeting on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 that crashed over Ukraine
A picture taken on July 17 shows the wreckage of the Malaysian airliner carrying 295 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur after it crashed over Ukraine
A man walks amongst the wreckages of the Malaysian airliner carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur after it crashed, near the town of Shaktarsk, in rebel-held east Ukraine.
Malaysia Says Jetliner Did Not Make Distress CallThe Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went down in war-torn Ukraine did not make any distress call, Malaysia's prime minister said on Friday, adding that its flight route also had been declared safe by the global civil aviation body.
A Series of Tweets by Noah Sneider - Writer, journalist, occasional photographer...
#BREAKING: Airlines group IATA says it believes crashed Malaysian aircraft was not flying in restricted airspace
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014#BREAKING: Pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine say they have found "blackbox" flight recorder of downed Malaysian airliner: Interfax
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014#BREAKING: Obama to address Malaysian plane crash at beginning of remarks in Delaware, starting shortly: White House
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014 More updates from
@Reuters:
- Malaysian airliner was flying normally without problems until disappeared from radar, says head of Ukrainian airspace regulatory body
- At least four French nationals on board Malaysia Airlines flight that crashed, says French foreign minister
Highlights of British Airways press conference as tweeted by
@Reuters:
- Our flights are not using Ukrainian airspace
- With the exception of our once a day service between Heathrow and Kiev
- Keeping those services under review, but Kiev is several hundred kilometers from the incident site
The ill-fated flight MH17 takes off from Schiphol aiport. This AFP picture was reportedly taken at that time
GRABOVO, Ukraine (AP)- The plane appeared to have broken up before impact and the wreck is scattered over a wide area in the eastern Ukraine village of Grabovo. The field around the burning wreck was strewn with body parts and the belongings of the passengers Thursday. Malaysia Airlines has said 295 people were aboard the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
Airlines that have said they will avoid Ukrainian airspace after the MH17 incident:- Turkish Airlines
- Russia's Aeroflot
- Russia's Transaero
- Lufthansa
- Virgin Air
- Air France
- British Airways
#BREAKING: Dutch PM says returning from Brussels to Netherlands to deal with crash in Ukraine of aircraft originating in Amsterdam
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014#BREAKING: Air France says has decided to avoid airspace of Eastern Ukraine
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014 Here's the last point of contact before MH17 was brought down:
#BREAKING: Putin near end of phone call with Obama noted early reports of downed passenger jet near the Russia-Ukraine border: White House
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014 A Reuters correspondent saw burning wreckage and bodies on the ground at the village of Grabovo, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Russian border in an area where pro-Russian rebels have been active and have claimed to have shot down other aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines' Statement After Its Flight MH17 Was Shot Down in Ukraine:
Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed 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.
The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.
Malaysia Airlines plane MH17 was travelling from Amsterdam on an overnight flight to Kuala Lumpur, and was expected in the Malaysian capital at around 6:00 am on Friday. The map below shows the flight path of the plane:
Separatist leader Aleksander Borodai blamed the downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner in eastern Ukraine on the country's government forces. Kiev, however, denied the involvement of Ukraine's armed forces.
#BREAKING: White House says Obama directed senior U.S. officials to remain in close touch with Ukrainian officials about downed plane
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014 Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on plane crash: I am shocked by reports that an MH plane crashed. We are launching an immediate investigation.