Malaysia Airlines MH17: Vital Black Boxes Finally Land in Hands of Malaysian Authorities, Rebels Announce Ceasefire (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)

The black boxes or flight recorders of downed Malaysia Airlines MH17, an essential electronic recording device placed in an aircraft that would greatly facilitate investigations in the event of an aviation accident or incident, are finally in the hands of Malaysian authorities.

On Monday, or four days after the fateful crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17, rebels in eastern Ukraine led by Alexander Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the Donetsk People's Republic, finally turned over the two flight-data recorders at a meeting in the city of Donetsk.

The head of the Malaysian delegation noted the "good condition" of the black boxes, which will help identify the exact time, altitude and exact position of the aircraft the time it was shattered by a surface-to-air missile. It should also contain the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide additional clues on the cause of the crash.

Regardless of the cause, flight recorders or black boxes are required to be capable of surviving the conditions likely to be encountered in a severe aircraft accident. The European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment-ED-112 required that the devices should be manufactured to withstand an impact of 3400 G-force and temperatures of over 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).

Read: Malaysia Airlines MH17: Too Much Blow for Mourning Families as Rebels Steal Bodies; Complete Passenger. Crew List Released

Borodai reiterated in the press conference that the downing of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 and the death of all its 298 passengers should be blamed on the Kiev government which had "both the technical ability and the motive" to bring down the plane.

Rebels likewise announced in the same meeting the implementation of a ceasefire within the 10km radius around the crash site to enable international investigators safely access the vast area where the Malaysia Airlines flight was downed.

Earlier, recordings of rebel leaders coordinating a ground search for the vital black boxes were released by Ukraine's security services. They allegedly heard the rebels zealously working to get the devices first before international experts get to them. Once they have the device, it would be turned over to Moscow.

Read: Malaysia Airlines MH17: Russia's Putin World's Getting Small, Pitted Against Global Leaders

The rebels denied the authenticity of the recordings (here).

Another video here.