It said the Boeing 777--200 plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when the Ukrainian air traffic control lost contact with it near the eastern city of Donetsk.
The plane appeared to have come down in a region of military action where Ukrainian government forces are battling pro-Russian separatists for control.
Sources have quoted the Ukraine Interior Ministry has saying that all souls on board have been killed, however, an official confirmation is yet to be made. Eyewitnesses at the scene though painted pictures of destruction and bodies strewn everywhere among a smattering of passports found intact.
The exact cause behind the plane's crash though was unclear amid reports that some rebels had used surface-to-air missiles to target a plane they mistook for a Ukranian transport. The rebels though have denied involvement.
The incident comes four months after a Malaysian Airlines plane, MH370, went missing less than 90 minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014.
2:20am, July 18
Addressing a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that while Malaysia was unable to verify the cause of the tragedy, "no stone can be left unturned" in trying to find out what happened to MH17, BBC reported.
"If it transpires that the plane was shot down, we insist the perpetrators be swiftly brought to justice," Razak said, adding that the aircraft did not make a distress call before contact was lost.
Referring to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines MH370 earlier this year, Razak said, “this is a tragic day in what has already been a tragic year for Malaysia."
Razak said he has spoken to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who said he would negotiate with rebels to establish a humanitarian corridor to the crash site.
The Malaysian premier, who had rushed to the emergency operation centre when news broke of the plane going down, said that an international team must have full access to the crash site.
"And no one should interfere with the area, or move any debris, including the black box," he urged.
Meanwhile, Razak said Malaysia was dispatching a special flight to Kiev, carrying a Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, as well as a medical team.
Speaking at a press conference at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, an airport official said there were 283 passengers and 15 crew members were on board.
A statement from Malaysian Airlines said there were 154 Dutch passengers on board the plane. Also 45 Malaysians (including the 15 crew and two infants) 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians (including one infant), nine Britons, four Germans, four Belgians, three from the Philippines and one Canadian. Nationalities of 41 other passengers have yet to be determined with reports suggesting they include 23 Americans.
1:55am, July 18
US intelligence agencies confirmed that the Malaysian Airlines MH17 was hit by a surface-to-air missile, The Wall Street Journal reported.
However, sources did not comment whether the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces or pro-Russia separatist rebels.
A radar system saw a surface-to-air missile system turn on and track an aircraft right before MH17 was shot down, while a second signature saw a heat signature at the time the airliner was hit, a senior US official told CNN.
Other senior US officials told CNN that at the moment US has “nothing to substantiate” Ukraine’s claims that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane.
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12:25am, July 18
. @Emirates has suspended flights to Kiev & says its US/other European flights do not fly over zone involving #MH17 incident
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 17, 2014
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11:58pm
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Emergency Ops Centre; receiving updates regarding the MH17 crash.
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11:45pm
The Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev offered his condolences over the “crash” of Malaysian Airlines MH17.
Deep condolences over the crash of Malaysian airlines in the sky over the Ukraine. This tragedy claimed the lives of several hundred people from different countries. And became a great sorrow for all those who lost today their relatives. I grieve for the dead.
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11:35pm
Chinese Embassy in Malaysia said that no report of Chinese citizen onboard MH17 flight, Xinhua News reported.
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11:24pm
US President Barack Obama says for US the first priority is to see if their citizens were on board.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the passengers, wherever they call home." —President Obama #MH17
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) July 17, 2014
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11:00pm
Extending sympathies to the families and friends of the passengers and crew of MH17, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, based on the information currently available it is believed that the airspace that the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions.
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10:53pm
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has returned to the Netherlands to monitor the situation after the crash of the plane of a Malaysia Airliner over Ukraine. Rutte is already been in contact with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
'I am deeply shocked by the tragic news about the crash of flight MH17 Malaysia Airlines from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian territory. Still very much is unclear about the facts, circumstances and the occupants. I have just spoken with the Ukrainian president. I am On my way back to the Netherlands from The Hague to monitor the situation and continue to act. Our thoughts are now looking forward to the occupants, their family and friends,'' said the Prime Minister.
Rutte had gone for a summit of European Union in Brussels on Wednesday. From there he went on vacation.
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10:34pm
Flight MH17 crash truly shocking. Facts need to be established immediately. My thoughts with families of victims.
— José Manuel Barroso (@JMDBarroso) July 17, 2014
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10:25pm
Airliners avoiding the Ukrainian airspace include Lufthansa, Air France, Trans Aero, Air Astana and Turkish Airlines.
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10:02pm
A separatist rebel from nearby Krasnyi Luch who gave his name only as Sergei said: "From my balcony I saw a plane begin to descend from a great height and then heard two explosions. He denied the rebels had shot the plane down. "This could happen only if it was a fighter jet or a surface-to-air missile (that shot it down)," he told Reuters, saying the rebels did not have weapons capable of shooting shoot down a plane at such a height.
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9:45pm
Malaysia Airlines has released a statement regarding the disappearance of flight MH17.
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.
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9:38pm
Russia's UN envoy has denied involvement.
"We didn't do it," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
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9:35pm
An advisor from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said that separatists fired a missile from a 9K37 Buk launcher, @interfaxua said.
— RANE (@RANEnetwork) July 17, 2014
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9:34pm
Putin, Obama discussed Malaysian plane crash, reports from Kremlin.
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9:32pm
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that the ailrine may have been shot down.
"We do not exclude that the plane was shot down and confirm that the Ukraine Armed Forces did not fire at any targets in the sky," Poroshenko said in a statement posted on the president's website.
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9:26pm
Eastern Ukraine separatist leader Alexander Borodai denies involvement in shooting down the Malaysian airliner. Alleges Ukrainian government forces shot it down.
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9:21pm
I am shocked by reports that an MH plane crashed. We are launching an immediate investigation.
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) July 17, 2014
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9:20pm
According to Reuters, Emergency Ministry official on site says body parts scattered around up to 15 km from crash site, at least 100 bodies seen.
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9:18pm
According to the office of the Ukrainian president, they have launched an investigation into the MH17 inicdent.
President of Ukraine on behalf of the State expresses its deep and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of this terrible tragedy. Made all possible search and rescue activities.
The Head of State appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers in order to urgently established the State Commission for the Investigation of the incident in order to properly investigate the causes of this tragedy. The President proposed to involve the Commission experts from ICAO and other international organizations, as well as representatives of the Netherlands and Malaysia.
Sure that the perpetrators of this tragedy will be brought to justice
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9:15pm
Ukrainian armed forces not involved in Malaysian passenger plane being brought down, Interfax quotes presidential press service according to Reuters.
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9:10pm
Ukrainian Prime Minister Areseny Yatseniuk ordered an investigation into the "airplane catastrophe" in eastern Ukraine, his spokeswoman Olga Lappo said on Thursday.
A Ukrainian interior ministry official earlier said 295 people onboard the Malaysian passenger airliner died when it came down.
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8:50pm
An aviation source told Reuters that the plane was found burning on the ground in eastern Ukraine.
We are aware of reports on MH17. We're gathering more information.
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) July 17, 2014
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8:45pm
Malaysia Airlines said on Twitter that they have lost contact of MH17 with Amsterdam.
Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow.
— Malaysia Airlines (@MAS) July 17, 2014
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8:40pm
A separate unnamed source in the Ukrainian security apparatus, quoted by Interfax, said the plane disappeared from radar at a height of 10,000 metres after which it came down near the town of Shakhtyorsk.
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8:30pm
Interfax has said the Boeing plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The Interfax report said the plane came down 50 km short of entering Russian airspace. It "began to drop, afterwards it was found burning on the ground on Ukrainian territory," the unnamed source said.
The plane appeared to have come down in a region of military action where Ukrainian government forces are battling pro-Russian separatists.
COMMENTS (20)
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@Joan: , le The American President has said more than that declaring that it was shot down over Ukrain territory and due to Russian support for the separatist who are being supplied the weaponry including the surface to air missiles, before even the investigations have commenced. He is asking Germany to join in, in imposing sanctions against Russia. The German chanceller curt response, let the investigations begin by the International team of experts.
Rex Minor
Such incidents have ocurred in the past too for example: An Iran Air Flight 655 an Iran Air civilian passenger flight from Tehran to Dubai was shot down by the United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes on 3 July 1988. The attack took place in Iranian airspace, over Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, and on the flight's usual flight path. The aircraft, an Airbus A300 B2-203, was destroyed by SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles fired from the Vincennes. All 290 on board, including 66 children and 16 crew, died.
May the departed souls Rest in Jannah. Hunger for power and hunger to be ruler can make you do anything in this world, same happens in this case.
What a MONUMENTAL TRAGEDY! it is difficult to believe but it has happened. Just over four months back the MH370 tragedy overtook the world with shock and awe and now this one one. Whosoever, from among the secessionists or the Ukraine forces fired the missile, will soon come out in the open when forensic details are revealed. This is indeed a tragedy and makes it all the more painful because it was on a scheduled flight path. It did not go of course for any reason whatever. To me this is no 'jinx.' It is more of a case of 'being in the right place at the wrong time.' The only cogent news on MH370 relates to a one-time news report of a US-Thailand Joint military exercise being conducted in that area. This news item has been eclipsed before and after by controversy theories. Salams
Its becoming increasingly violent and dangerous, unsafe even in the air. A sad place for future generations if the world leaders do not actively engage to fix the wrong, which is inequity and absence of justice
My condolences the the family who have lost their dear ones. People must be very careful which airline they fly.
So sad, RIP and may Almighty give strength to the loved ones, Malaysians Government and the people to bear this loss when they could not have gotten rid of their pain and sufferings of MH370.just four months ago.
Very sad. There is a very serious fight going on in Ukraine between government forces and rebels. Ukrainian rebels have already shot down number of military planes and helicopters. It was stupid of Malaysian airline to fly over a troubled airspace.
If you connect the dots it becomes clearer that the US is behind the fates of both Malaysian Airlines. They were strangely dismissive in terms of searching and helping with finding MH 370 and the US has confirmed that this Airline was shot down by missiles (indicating the blame towards the Russians). Tensions will ultimately rise between the US, Russia and the Middle East and will escalate out of control. God help us!
This is not for the first time that this kind of thing has happened in the Russian airspace. Back in probably 80's a passenger airline was shot down. Russia seems to be habbitual criminal in this. These powers are ruthless whether they are super powers, rebels or terrorists. Sad state of affairs!
If the black box is not found (most likely) then one cant safely call this an act of terrorism? I mean, surely you do warn a passenger carrier of flying in your self imposed no flying zone? But i guess the terror word is more associated with the Muslims "some how or the other"
Malysia is under atttack., the only largest and developed state in the Muslim World is not liked by the non-Muslim countries, must be investigated conspiriacy against Malysia.
@shah: whom are you kidding, it was russian army that is directly involved in fighting ukrainians ... russia has a history of terrorism and genocide second world war, afghanistan, chechnya, syria these russian and kremlin terrorists have killed millions
This is why sophisticated weapons should not be put in hands of non-state actors.
very serious issue
they were worried about muslim terrorists doing this, apparently in war everyone is a terrorist even christians
God protect all passengers !
Devastating! This is the second plane in a spate of few months after the disappearance of flight MH30. My thoughts are with the affected families.RIP.