Here is a summary of the key facts about the crash of flight MH17 – the second disaster to strike Malaysia Airlines this year.
THE PLANE
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER, Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Left Amsterdam at 12.15pm local time Thursday, due to land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10am (0810 AEST) local time Friday
THE ROUTE
Though Ukrainian military aircraft have been shot down over eastern Ukraine by rebels, the route taken by the Malaysian jet appears to have been subject to no flight restrictions, the International Air Transport Association says. Eurocontrol, a European air safety organisation, said the plane apparently was flying at approximately 10,000 metres (33,000 feet), which was authorised, although Ukrainian authorities had closed the airspace at lower altitudes
THE CRASH
Malaysia Airlines notified by Ukrainian authorities they lost contact with the plane when it was 30 kilometres from the Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Ukraine-Russia border. The plane-tracking service FlightAware.com said the last reported position for MH17 was at 33,000 feet just west of Ukraine’s border with Russia. Ukrainian authorities reported the crash, the site was found near a village held by pro-Russia fighters 40km from Russia border
THE CAUSE
An adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister says plane shot down with a missile, but gave no proof. Pro-Moscow separatist leader says he is certain it was Ukrainian troops who downed the airliner, but also offered no proof. Independent Western defence experts say both Ukrainian and Russian armed forces possess SA-17 missile launchers capable of reaching an altitude of 20,000 metres (66,000 feet), and that pro-Moscow insurgents may have gotten their hands on one to two surface-to-air missiles when Ukrainian forces retreated. A launcher similar to the SA-17 missile system, also known as Buk, was seen by AP journalists earlier on Thursday near the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne, which is held by the rebels
THE PASSENGERS
At least 154 people on the flight were Dutch citizens, also 27 Australians on board, 43 Malaysians, including all 15 crew, and 12 Indonesians. Other nationalities so far identified were nine passengers from the UK, four from Germany, four Belgians, three from the Philippines and one Canadian. There are still 41 dead whose nationality has not yet been confirmed
THE REACTION
President Obama, who was informed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call of reports of a downed passenger jet, asked that his advisers keep him updated. Boeing offered any assistance that authorities might request. Malaysia is dispatching a team to the area. Ukrainian authorities say all air space in eastern Ukraine has now been closed, and that any flight plans filed using these routes will be rejected by Eurocontrol until further notice.
