Friday, July 18
Federal prosecutors in Belgium launched their own investigation into the crash of Malaysian Airlines, which was carrying six Belgian citizens, RTL radio station reports quoting the press service of the Prosecutor's Office. The main purpose of the investigation is at this stage to gather as much possible information about the circumstances of the incident.
France is ready to dispatch experts to Ukraine to aid the plane crash investigation, RIA Novosti reports, citing a joint statement of the foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, and secretary of state for transport, Frédéric Cuvillier.
"The bureau in charge of investigating airplane crashes in coordination with its European partners appointed two experts who are ready to take part in the international investigation. The bureau is ready to provide to the investigation laboratory equipment intended to [help] aid reading the information from the black boxes [flight recorders]," the communiqué reads.
The Pentagon has no information that anti-Kiev forces are in possession of an air defense system capable of shooting down a plane.
"The missile itself, the SA-11, which is the one we believe was used to down Flight 17, is a sophisticated piece of technology," Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters. "I don't have an indication now that a system was brought over [from Russia]. And we don't exactly know who is responsible for firing that missile, or with what assistance."
"What I'm saying is that that system is fairly sophisticated," Kirby added. "Nobody is suggesting that Russian military advice and assistance has not somehow crossed the border. It is just unclear exactly how much and when and who. That is what the investigators are going to look at and that is what we need to let them do."
10 Downing Street has made a statement concerning the shooting down of flight MH17, where the UK government blames anti-Kiev forces for the tragedy.
"While it is too early to be categorical about the cause of the disaster... evidence suggests that MH17 was shot down by a surface to air missile and that this was fired from near Torez, in territory controlled by the separatists...On this basis we assess that, without compelling information to the contrary, it is increasingly likely that MH17 was shot down by a separatist missile," the UK's government statement said.
The Cabinet of ministers also confirmed the death of 10 British nationals, while calling for thorough investigation and access to the crash site by the international team of experts.
"We now know that 10 British nationals tragically lost their lives in this appalling disaster. The families of those killed have been informed and the Foreign Office is offering consular assistance to them at this difficult time."
Head of the monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Ukraine Thomas Greminger said that the team stayed at the crash site for 75 minutes before returning to Donetsk. They expect to return on Saturday.
"They did not have the kind of access that they expected. They did not have the freedom of movement that they need to do their job. The crash site is not sealed off," he told Reuters by telephone. "In the current circumstances, they were not able to help securing this corridor that would allow access for those that would want to investigate," Greminger said.
The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (BKA) will sent two experts to help an international team of investigators examine the Malaysian airliner crash site.
Experts intend "close cooperation with local authorities to agree on measures needed to identify the bodies of the victims, so that relatives of the victims are able to get accurate information," Itar-tass reports, citing BKA's statement.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a warning to airlines urging them to avoid flying over eastern Ukraine.
"The Agency draws the aviation community's attention to the possible existence of serious risks to the safety of international civil flights and the consequent airspace restrictions implemented," it said, adding that the safety notice affects the Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk regions of the country.
INTERPOL will send an Incident Response Team (IRT) to Donetsk region to help coordinate the identification of the victims of flight MH 17.
"The INTERPOL team, which includes Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) experts and a representative from the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) will be deployed within the next 48 hours to provide on-site assistance," the international police force said in a statement.
The International Civil Aviation Authority, a UN body, said that it was a duty of individual nations to issue warnings over its airspace in conflict zone, saying it was not responsible for issuing warnings about potential dangers.
"The International Civil Aviation Authority does not declare airspace safe or unsafe or undertake any other direct operational responsibilities with respect to civilian air services," said ICAO spokesman Anthony Philbin.
Earlier Malaysia's PM Najib Razak said the plane's flight route had been declared safe by the ICAO.
Up to 10 British passengers were killed on the passenger plane MH17, Malaysia Airlines has said, adding another casualty to the government's previous estimate.
Earlier on Friday, a number of British casualties were identified by authorities, including former BBC employee Glenn Thomas, 49, and two Newcastle United football fans, Liam Sweeny, 28 and John Alder, who is believed to be in his 60s.
Describing the events as "absolutely shocking", Prime Minister David Cameron has joined international leaders to insist that those responsible for the attack must be "held to account."
Earlier on Friday, Cameron held an emergency COBRA meeting in London, insisting that it was too early to know who was responsible for the attack.
Argentina's envoy to the UN has warned against a "blame game" and called for prudence until the investigation is completed.
The OSCE has said 30 of its staff have arrived at the Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash site near Donetsk.
The self-defense forces of Donetsk People's Republic have allowed Ukraine's investigators to the site of the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane and promised to welcome all experts from international groups.
"We have already allowed four Ukrainian investigators. Also the experts from OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] and other international organizations will take part in the probe," DPR's deputy-PM Andrey Purgin told Interfax.
In the meantime, the OSCE observers hope that militia in eastern Ukraine will assist their investigation of the site, an OSCE representative told RIA Novosti.
"The representatives of DPR promised us and guaranteed the assistance in investigating the circumstances of the accident," he added.
Ukraine's traffic controllers ordered the Boeing-777 to lower by 500 meters when the aircraft entered Ukrainian airspace, says a statement on the Malaysia Airlines official website.
"MH17 filed a flight plan requesting to fly at 35,000ft (10,660 meters) throughout Ukrainian airspace. This is close to the 'optimum' altitude. However, an aircraft's altitude in flight is determined by air traffic control on the ground. Upon entering Ukrainian airspace, MH17 was instructed by Ukrainian air traffic control to fly at 33,000ft (10,058 meters)."
The vice-president of Malaysia Airlines Europe, Huib Gorter, announced the latest nationality count for the victims of the MH17 flight:
The Netherlands – 189
Malaysia – 44
Australia – 27
Indonesia – 12
UK – 9
Belgium – 4
Germany – 4
The Philippines – 3
Canada – 1
New Zealand – 1
The nationalities of four people remain unidentified, the official said. The company is working with relevant embassies to double-check the tally.
The next of kin of each passenger killed at Malaysian plane crash will be to be given US$5,000 compensation to cover initial expenses, said Huib Gorter, the vice-president of Malaysia Airlines Europe, speaking at a news conference in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Pope Francis "has learned with dismay" of the recent crash of Malaysian plane in Donetsk Region, said a statement from the Holy See Press Office.
"[The Pontiff] raises prayers for the numerous victims of the incident and for their relatives, and renews his heartfelt appeal to all parties in the conflict to seek peace and solutions through dialogue, in order to avoid further loss of innocent human lives," it added.
Both Kiev authorities and self-defense forces in eastern Ukraine should come back to peaceful negotiations, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Peace should prevail on Ukrainian soil. Direct contact between the conflicting sides should be established as soon as possible," he said.
Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has called for a thorough investigation into the tragedy of the Malaysian plane that crashed in Donetsk Region
"We demand that an investigation of the plane crash in eastern Ukraine is conducted promptly and fully," the minister said in a statement cited by ITAR-TASS. "If it is found out what exactly happened, then the culprits should be prosecuted."
He said full access to the site of the plane crash is necessary for a transparent probe.
Dutch politician Willem Witteveen, a member of the senate, was among the victims of the Malaysian airplane crash, said a statement from the Dutch parliament, according to press in the Netherlands.
Russia does not plan to take the black boxes from the Malaysian Airlines plane that crashed in Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Kiev troops haven't used any missiles during the military operation in eastern Ukraine, said Andrey Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council, as cited by Reuters.
"All missiles that are in our armory - not one of them has been used," he said.
According to Bogdan Senyk, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, the Malaysian plane was out of the range of Kiev's anti-aircraft missile systems.
"Anti-aircraft missiles have not been deployed during the anti-terrorist operation ... they are all in place," he added.
A family of six were among the passengers of Malaysian plane that crashed in Donetsk Region, reported the Star newspaper. The entire family from Kuching city, northeastern Malaysia, were on their way back from Kazakhstan transiting via Amsterdam.
Tambi Jiee, 49, was with his wife Ariza Ghazalee, 47, and four children - Mohd Afif, 19, Mohd Afzal, 17, Marsha Azmeena, 15, and Mohd Afruz, 13.
An Australian woman has lost two relatives in the two recent Malaysia planes disasters. Kaylene Mann lost her brother after Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from the radars in March, and which has never been found.
On Friday she learned that her step-daughter Maree Rizk, was among the passengers of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17,
"It's just brought everyone, everything back," said Greg Burrows, Mann's other brother. "It's just ... ripped our guts again."
A distant relative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was among the passengers on board the Boeing-777 aircraft, reported the Star newspaper.
According to unconfirmed reports, 83-year-old Puan Sri Siti Amirah was traveling alone on her way back to Jogjakarta, Indonesia, from Amsterdam. She intended to transit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
It is too "premature to draw conclusions" before the forensic teams have investigated the wreckage of the plane, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
"Regarding sanctions, I'd like to point out that the events with the plane, as far as I remember, were not even 24 hours ago and at the moment we need to sort out an independent investigation," she added.
Experts from Interpol will identify the bodies of the passengers of the crashed Malaysian plane, reported the press service of Ukraine's Interior Ministry.
The negotiations on sending the Interpol specialists to the site of the crashed plane were held between the country's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and Ronald Noble, the secretary-general of Interpol.
The black boxes from the Malaysian plane should remain on the territory of Ukraine, said Andrey Sibiga, director of consular services at Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. The transportation of the boxes abroad is illegal, he added.
So far, 181 bodies have been recovered from wrecks of the crashed Malaysian Airlines jet in Donetsk Region so far, said a statement from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
Russia will insist on an objective, open and independent investigation into the crash of the Malaysian plane in Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"We are ready to contribute [to the international probe], but certainly we believe that it should be the initiative of the country on whose territory the tragedy happened," he told Rossiya-24.
Lavrov said that Kiev authorities haven't recently given any credible statements.
"About the statements from Kiev saying that it was almost us [Russia] who [targeted the plane], you know I haven't heard any credible statements from Kiev in the recent months," he added.
Kiev authorities and self-defense troops in eastern Ukraine need to implement a ceasefire to allow a speedy independent investigation into the Malaysian Airlines crash in Donetsk Region, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Kiev authorities have called upon several countries to conduct international investigation of the crash of the Malaysian plane in Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine, said Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, as reported by RIA Novosti.
"We started an independent investigation and addressed the governments of the countries to conduct an international investigation into this tragedy," he added.
Malaysia and the Netherlands are among the countries invited for the independent probe. Also the Boeing Company, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Eurocontrol (the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation), European Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a US government investigative agency, will join the investigation.
The People's Republic of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine is ready for a truce with Kiev, said the representative of the Republic in Russia, Andrey Rodkin, reported RIA Novosti.
"We need peace and we are ready to talk about the truce to stop the homicide of the civilian population and destruction of infrastructure," he said at the meeting of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, in Moscow.
It will be "an outrage against human decency" if the forensic experts prove that the Malaysian plane was shot down, said Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
"Should this be confirmed, it will contravene international law and be an outrage against human decency," he said, adding that Malaysia's authorities welcomed the call for an independent criminal investigation into the incident.
Ukraine's self-defense forces have recovered eight of the 12 recording devices from the Malaysian plane at the crash site, said forces member Igor Girkin, as cited by AP.
Earlier, Girkin said that the Donetsk self-defense forces won't interfere with the investigation into the crash of the airplane.
Kuala Lumpur will send an investigative team of 62 experts to the area where a Malaysian Airlines jet crashed in Donetsk Region, Malaysian Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said at a press conference.
Siti Dina, a relative of Malaysian citizens who were on the crashed airplane, said she lost five members of her family: her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren.
"I was shocked. I got the news, my friend called up. So we watched the CNN news, and then we found it was the MH17," she told Ruptly.
"They stop in Kuala Lumpur to change to another plane," she said, adding that the family was on its way back to Melbourne.
Malaysian Airlines is trying to arrange safe access for relatives of victims to the area in Donetsk Region where the airplane crashed, a spokeswoman for Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, as reported by Reuters.
"The relatives, a few hundred of them, are currently being housed in a hotel atSchiphol," she added.
A video reportedly depicting the last moments of passengers from the Malaysian plane before departure, has emerged on YouTube. The footage was recorded by Malaysian passenger Md Ali Md Salim and uploaded on his Instagram account. It shows passengers stowing their luggage in the overhead compartment.
Experts have yet to study the black boxes from the downed Malaysian Airlines plane and teams of investigators have not yet arrived at the site of the crash. However Western media outlets and several US politicians, including former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Senator John McCain, have already drawn their conclusions –Russia is to blame for the catastrophe.
The Sun, a UK daily tabloid newspaper used its front page with the poster of Russian president to declare "Putin's missile" was to blame.
"Vladimir Putin was facing universal condemnation last night after pro-Russian separatists shot down a passenger jet carrying 295 people over Ukraine," says the article from the Sun.
RT's Marina Portnaya was following the headlines of Western media outlets.
Russian airlines have decided to stop regular flights to eastern Ukrainian cities of Dnepropetrovsk and Odessa on July 18-20, reports Russia's Air Service. The flights were stopped due to the recent downing of a Malaysian plane over Ukraine.
Ukraine's Air service has closed the airspace over the zone of military operation in eastern Ukraine, reported its press service. It added that the zone was closed after the crash of the Malaysian plane and flights will resume after the situation is "stabilized."
Five Belgian citizens have been killed in Malaysian airplane crash in Donetsk Region, said Didier Reynders, Belgium's foreign minister.
An Israeli citizen is reportedly among the victims of the crashed plane, the man's father wrote on his Facebook page.
"Today 17-7-2014 our son Ithamar was in the crashed malaysia airlines plain that went from Amstersam to australia - ithamar was 27 years old [sic]," wrote Dov Avnon, the man's father.
One hundred and twenty-one bodies have been recovered from wrecks of the crashed Malaysian plane in Donetsk Region so far. At least 95 rescuers and 18 vehicles are now recovering the remains, reports the press service of Ukraine's Emergency Ministry.
Self-defense forces from People's Republic of Donetsk are guarding the areas of the crashed plane where the rescue workers are recovering the bodies. The criminal experts from the city of Donetsk are due to arrive Friday afternoon.
The militias fighting in eastern Ukraine against the government troops have no weapons systems that could have shot down the Malaysia Airlines plane on Thursday, the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, Vitaly Yaryoma, stated citing a military report submitted to President Petro Poroshenko.
Considering the high altitude the MH17 was flying, it could not have been taken down by a portable anti-aircraft missile or anti-aircraft cannon, which the Ukrainian militia have been using to attack Ukrainian military aircraft.
Earlier there were reports that the militia had captured a Buk missile launcher, which could have done it, but Kiev insisted that the system was out of order and could not be repaired by the militia.
A major Dutch AIDS expert, Joep Lange, was among the passengers of Malaysian airplane that downed in Donetsk Region, eastern Ukraine. David Cooper, a professor at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales, who was working with Lange, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"Joep had an absolute commitment to HIV treatment and care in Asia and Africa," Cooper added.
According to unconfirmed reports from Australian news outlets, over a hundred of the plane's passengers were heading to the 20th International AIDS Conference which is scheduled to start on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.
A second flight recorder from the Malaysian airliner brought down in Ukraine has been recovered, a Reuters cameraman reported from the scene. On Thursday, local militia controlling the area reported finding the first flight recorder of the Boeing 777.
People are bringing flowers and candles to the Malaysian Embassy in Moscow to mourn the victims of the airplane crash in Donetsk Region, reports Gazeta.ru.
Malaysia Airlines is preparing a team of investigators, which will be sent to Ukraine to investigate the fatal crash of its Boeing 777, the company said in a statement. It didn't state the number of specialists it is sending.
Indonesia's president said on Friday he had instructed all national airlines to avoid flying over Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and other conflict areas after a Malaysian airliner with 298 people aboard was shot down.
"I have issued instructions for Indonesian airlines to avoid conflict areas, especially Ukraine ... and Gaza strip," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a televised address.
World leaders demanded an international investigation into the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines plane over eastern Ukraine, in which all 298 people on board were killed. (Reuters)
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday morning at 10:00 am EST (1400 GMT) on Ukraine.
The US has urged all parties in the conflict in Ukraine to support "an immediate cease-fire in order to ensure safe and unfettered access to the crash site for international investigators and in order to facilitate the recovery of remains," The White House Office of the Press Secretary said.
"In the meantime, it is vital that no evidence be tampered with in any way and that all potential evidence and remains at the crash site are undisturbed. The United States remains prepared to contribute immediate assistance to any international investigation, including through resources provided by the NTSB and the FBI."
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was quick to condemn Russia's role in Ukraine, and stopped just short of accusing Moscow directly for the shoot-down of the passenger airliner over Ukrainian airspace.
"While we do not yet know who is responsible for this attack, we continue to condemn Russia's military aggression and illegal occupation of Ukraine," Harper said in a statement, adding that it was "at the root of the ongoing conflict in the region."
President Obama called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib to "express condolences to the people of Malaysia," the White House says. "President Obama reaffirmed the strength of the friendship between the United States and Malaysia and underscored that the United States stands ready to provide any assistance or support necessary."
China's aviation administration has ordered all Chinese airliners to avoid eastern Ukrainian airspace where flight MH17 has crashed, CCTV reports.
A Dutch scientist and a World Health Organization spokesman were among the 108 delegates heading to Melbourne Australia for the 20th International AIDS Conference when the Malaysian Airline flight was shot down, Bloomberg cites unconfirmed reports.
"The International AIDS Society today expresses its sincere sadness," it said in a statement on the meeting's website. "At this incredibly sad and sensitive time, the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy."
Among those confirmed killed were Glenn Thomas, a Geneva-based spokesman for the WHO, said Rachel Baggaley, coordinator of the UN agency's HIV prevention program, the agency reports.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is reviewing whether US citizens were aboard MH17, while saying the US was "prepared to assist with a credible, international investigation any way we can."
The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) "prohibiting US flight operations until further notice" over eastern Ukraine.
The restricted area includes the "entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions (FIRs)." No scheduled US airlines are currently flying routes through this airspace, the watchdog added.
Kiev authorities attempt to shift the blame for the catastrophe Malaysian Boeing 777 on the DPR look "ridiculous" according to DPR representative.
Claims that an intercepted conversation recording emerged from the Cossacks brigade and the actual language and tone of the conversation, "are an example of the most ridiculous attempt to shift the blame on the DPR and an example of the most helpless unprofessional propaganda," DPR spokesman Sergey Kavtaradze, told Ria Novosti.
Kavtaradze once again reiterated that anti-Kiev forces do not posses the capabilities to shoot down an aircraft at that altitude.
Malaysian Airlines has adopted a temporary new policy in its booking system waiving all fees for those passengers wishing to avoid flying with the carrier.
Eva Airways, a major Taiwanese carrier said it will reroute its 20 round-trip flights paths to avoid flying over Ukraine.
"Our planes will avoid entering Ukraine airspace effective immediately," a representative of the company told Reuters. "This will remain in effect indefinitely."
Anti-Kiev forces offered security guarantees to international observers and investigators at the crash site of the Malaysian Boeing in eastern Ukraine, the OSCE said in a statement following a Trilateral Contact Group convening in Kiev. According to the statement, the sides agreed to the following:
1. As a matter of priority, they shall close off the site of the catastrophe and allow local authorities to start preparations for the recovery of bodies;
2. They shall provide safe access and security guarantees to the national investigation commission, including international investigators, in the area under their control;
3. They shall provide safe access and security guarantees to OSCE monitors;
4. They shall cooperate with the relevant authorities of Ukraine on all practical questions arising in the course of the recovery and investigation.
Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has expressed his "sincere condolences" to the families of the victims of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, while calling for a "thorough and impartial" investigation. He also called on all warring parties to come to a ceasefire agreement.
President Obama in a telephone conversation with Dutch PM Mark Rutte said the US would support a "prompt, full, credible, and unimpeded international investigation" into the Boeing crash in Ukraine. The White House said that Obama told Rutte the United States was prepared to contribute "immediate assistance".
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is ready to assist in the investigation of the crash of Malaysian aircraft Boeing-777 in eastern Ukraine, ICAO director Anthony Philbin told RIA Novosti.
"ICAO recently warned the countries and their air carriers about the potential dangers of flights over Simferopol area (Crimea) due to the presence of more than one air traffic control service. Flight MH17 was lost outside that zone, and ICAO is ready to support a crash investigation if requested."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held consultations with the Polish Ministry of Defense over the plane crash in neighboring Ukraine, to coordinate a response strategy, RIA Novosti reports
"PM Donald Tusk met with the head of the Ministry of Defense in connection with the crash of the liner in the Ukraine. Donald Tusk also discussed the situation with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski," the PM's press office said.
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