Flight MH 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur shot down

Another bad news and sad day for Malaysians.

First it was MH-370. Now, it appears tragedy has struck again, this time on Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17, on route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, which disappeared from radar moments ago and was reportedly shot down over Ukraine. 

The Malaysian prime minister gave a statement — which was posted in full on Facebook — saying that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation that will follow Thursday’s crash.

“If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice,” he says, adding that he’s spoken to both President Obama and the president of Ukraine and both have pledged their support.

Najib Razak

Politician · 2,560,498 Likes

 · 1 hr · 

Statement by Prime Minister Najib Razak:
Malaysian Airlines flight 17 (18 July 2014)

Yesterday evening, I was informed of the terrible and deeply shocking news that a Malaysia Airlines jet went down in eastern Ukraine.

...See More

 · Comment · Share · 10,0297382,093

Putin begins a meeting on Thursday with a moment of silence.IMAGE: PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave remarks about the plane, expressing condolences to the bereaved families — then promptly blamed Ukraine. He said the Flight 17 disaster would never have happened if Kiev hadn't renewed operation against the rebels in east Ukraine, Reutersreported.

#BREAKING: Putin says airplane disaster would not have happened if Kiev had not renewed military operation against rebels in east Ukraine

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 17, 2014

A Dutch journalist tweeted the latest casualty count of those on board the doomed jetliner. The majority of those flying on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 were Dutch. The largest group after that were Australians. There are still 47 unknowns.

Update Passengers #MH17: 154 Dutch, 47 unknown, 27 Aus, 23 Malaysia, 11 Indonesian, 6 UK, 4 German, 4 Belgians, 3 Philippines, 1 Canadian

— Natalie Righton (@Natalie_Kabul) July 17, 2014

************************************************************

U.S. intelligence officials say the passenger plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile, CNBC reports, but are divided over its origin.

Vice President Joe Biden says it was “not an accident” and “blown out of the sky.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian security services say a leaked tape that reveals pro-Russian rebels discussing the downed plane is authentic. In it, rebels in eastern Ukraine can be heard blaming “Cossacks” at a checkpoint down the road for shooting down the plane. Listen to it on Mashable.

*************************************************************

New York Times reporter Sabrina Tavernise reached the site of the crash before nightfall Thursday and describes a devastating scene:

As dark descended on the field, a light rain began to fall, casting a funereal pall over a scene of almost unspeakable horror. A woman in a black sweater top lay on her back, blood streaming from her face, her left arm raised as if signaling someone. Another victim, naked except for a black bra, lay on the field, her grey hair mixing with the green grasses, one leg broken and her body torn.

A young boy, who looked to be around 10 years old, lay on his side in a red T-shirt reading “Don’t Panic.”

*******************************************************************************

A crowd has gathered at the Dutch embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, as people lay flowers and candles in respect of those lost on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Reports say there were 71 Dutch on board the aircraft, which departed Amsterdam Thursday morning and downed in eastern Ukraine on its way to Kuala Lumpur.

Crowd near Embassy of the Netherlands in #Kyiv - pic by Marichka Padalkopic.twitter.com/Yhh4fQIvc3

— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) July 17, 2014

People bringing flowers and candles to the Embassy of the #Netherlands in #Kyiv - pic by Marichka Padalko pic.twitter.com/Xx59SfZWhg

— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) July 17, 2014

Vice President Biden, meanwhile, who is traveling in Detroit on Thursday, spoke by phone with Ukraine's President Poroshenko. Biden offered U.S. assistance to help to determine what happened and why, per a White House pool report.

***********************************************************

Russian news agency LifeNews has obtained exclusive video of the crash site. It shows a pile of debris, bodies (which are blurred) and an emergency services person spraying water on the wreckage. The video also shows some of the passports of those on board.

The first militant units of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have already reached the Boeing crash site in eastern Ukraine, DPR First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Purgin told Interfax.

"Militant units are at the scene already. They have already reported that there are many dead, including children," Purgin said.

Pictures of the crash /wreckage

Al Fatihah to all Muslims on board and Rest in Peace to the other families and people.