Malaysia Airlines plane crashes in Ukraine
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
Updated: Thurs 17 July, 22.43 GMT
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 has come down in the Ukraine with 295 people onboard, including six Britons.
According to reports the flight was travelling at 33,000 feet from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 295 people onboard when it came down in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine’s president Petro Poroshenko has said the incident is a ‘terrorist attack’, while Russia news agency Interfax reported that the Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser said a Buk missile fired from the ground by separatists had impacted the aircraft.
All 280 passengers and 15 crew who were on the aircraft are believed to have died.
A statement from Malaysia Airlines read: “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.”
A Sky News correspondent said local media reports are saying the aircraft came down in an area where there has been heavy fighting between Russia and Ukraine.
Many airlines have said they will now avoid flying over Ukrainian airspace, including KLM, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot, while airborne UK aircraft are being redirected.
Uk Dept of transport: Flights already airborne are being routed around the area by air traffic control in the region
— Ross Hawkins (@rosschawkins) July 17, 2014
British Airways says its flights are not using Ukrainian airspace with exception of its once-a-day service between Heathrow and Kiev #MH17
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) July 17, 2014
Boeing said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those on board the Malaysia Airlines airplane lost over Ukrainian airspace, as well as their families and loved ones. Boeing stands ready to provide whatever assistance is requested by authorities.”
The MH370 aircraft operated by Malaysia Airlines is still missing weeks after disappearing.
Tributes and support have flooded into the airline since the story broke, while images have started to emerge of the site.
Our thoughts and prayers are with passengers, crew and their families following the terrible news of #MH17. http://t.co/rOAS1VIpfT — IATA Communications (@iata2press) July 17, 2014
Flightradar24 database showing last position and time of flight #MH17 http://t.co/8WeQ2d1fvQ pic.twitter.com/5U2JsdMXLp — BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 17, 2014
Our thoughts are with the passengers & crew of Malaysia Flight 17 & their families. We offer our oneworld partner our support at this time. — American Airlines (@AmericanAir) July 17, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers go to all those lost today on MH17 and to those left behind. — S & C Travel (@sctrav) July 17, 2014
Image appears to show the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines plane #MH17 http://t.co/E9TfeWF27Q pic.twitter.com/LrrwCJrShg — Sky News (@SkyNews) July 17, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of passengers on Malaysia Air flight MH17 — Gray Dawes Travel (@GrayDawesTravel) July 17, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of passengers on Malaysia Air flight MH17 — Egencia (@Egencia) July 17, 2014
Comments are closed.