Another tragedy has befallen a Malaysia Airlines flight only months after the disappearance of MH370 over the Indian Ocean on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. This time, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which was flying to Malaysia from Amsterdam on July 17, 2014 was shot down in mid-air over Ukrainian airspace. The first photos from the crash site confirm the devastation of the aircraft and the deaths of the 295 passengers onboard.
The initial photos show parts of the fuselage showing the distinctive Malaysia Airlines markings with the Malaysian flag and the blue and red stripes that comprise the airline fleet's livery. The broken pieces are large enough to be identified as parts of the fallen aircraft.
The crash site is located close to Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine close to the Russian border and close to the place where the plane lost contact with Ukrainian Air Traffic Control. The area is reported to be rebel-controlled.
Emergency workers could already be seen putting out flames in parts of the wreckage while debris from the plane lie scattered on the ground. While the plane lies in pieces, many parts from the exterior and interior of the plane remain recognizable including human remains.
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that 280 passengers were onboard the aircraft along with 15 crew members for a total of 295 people. A BUK surface-to-air missile is suspected to have been used to shoot the plane down. The Ukrainian Government has already denied responsibility for the incident and has launched an investigation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly briefed U.S. President Barack Obama about the incident via a phone conversation.
Other photos from the site show armed men in the area who are believed to be pro-Russia separatist rebels. Russia and Ukraine have been embroiled in a battle in recent months brought about by the desire of some separatist groups to become part of Russia once again just as they were part of the Soviet Union. This sentiment has been met with resistance by Ukraine and the matter has since escalated into numerous armed conflicts in the region.
Despite claims that rebels do not have the capability to shoot an aircraft flying at cruising altitude, various unconfirmed reports have surfaced that the rebels have gained access and control over BUK Surface to air missiles which have the capability of such an attack.
An armed pro-Russian separatist takes pictures at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising the stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSAn armed pro-Russian separatist stands on part of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSArmed pro-Russian separatists stand at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising the stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSSmoke rises from the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSThe site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSPeople stand near part of the wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSAn Emergencies Ministry member works at putting out a fire at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSThe site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner Flight MH-17 was brought down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in which Russia and the West back opposing sides. REUTERSA part of the wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane is seen after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The total number of dead in the crash of the Malaysia Airlines MH-17 plane in eastern Ukraine is more than 300 and includes 23 U.S. citizens, a Ukrainian interior ministry aide said. REUTERSAn armed pro-Russian separatist stands at a site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner MH-17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian militants on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard, a Ukrainian interior ministry official said. Dozens of bodies were scattered around the smouldering wreckage of a passenger jet that crashed in a field in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, a Reuters reporter said. An emergency services rescue worker said at least 100 bodies had so far been found at the scene, near the village of Grabovo, and that debris from the wreckage was spread across an area up to about 15 km (nine miles) in diameter. REUTERSThe site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is seen at the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian militants on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard, a Ukrainian interior ministry official said. REUTERSA man works at putting out a fire at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. The Malaysian airliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian militants on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard, a Ukrainian interior ministry official said. REUTERS
