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Malaysia airlines flight MH17 crash: 295 killed after Boeing passenger jet 'shot down' in Ukraine Malaysia airlines flight MH17 crash: 295 feared dead after Boeing passenger jet 'shot down' in Ukraine
(35 minutes later)
295 people have reportedly died after a Malaysian passenger aircraft crashed after being shot down near the Russian border in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, according to an adviser to Ukraine's Interior Minister. A Malaysian passenger aircraft crashed after being shot down near the Russian border in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, according to an adviser to Ukraine's Interior Minister. There were 295 people on board.
The commercial Boeing airliner was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, a source told the Interfax news agency.The commercial Boeing airliner was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, a source told the Interfax news agency.
Anton Gerashenko, an aide to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, wrote on his Facebook page that the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet over eastern Ukraine when it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher and landed near the city of Donetsk - a stronghold of pro-Russian rebels. Anton Gerashenko, an aide to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, wrote on his Facebook page that the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet over eastern Ukraine when it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher and crashed near the city of Donetsk - a stronghold of pro-Russian rebels.
A similar launcher was reported by journalists near the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne earlier today. A similar launcher was reported by journalists near the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne earlier today. The system can fire missiles up to an altitude of 72,000 feet.
The aircraft involved is understood to be a Boeing 777 with flight number MH17, which departed from Amsterdam at 12.14am local time, 15 minutes alter than scheduled, according to flight records. The aircraft involved is understood to be a Boeing 777 with flight number MH17, which departed from Amsterdam at 12.14am local time, 15 minutes later than scheduled, according to flight records.
It was expected to arrive in Malaysia at 6:10am local time, but did enter Russian airspace when it was expected to, a Russian aviation source told Reuters. It was expected to arrive in Malaysia at 6:10am local time, but did not enter Russian airspace when it was expected to, a Russian aviation source told Reuters.
The Interfax report said the plane came down 50 km (20 miles) 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 Interfax report said the plane came down 50 km (20 miles) short of entering Russian airspace. It "began to drop, afterwards it was found burning on the ground on Ukrainian territory," the unnamed source said.
Malaysia Airlines crash: What we do and don't know so far
The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ordered an investigation into what he has called an "airplan catastrophe", his spokeswoman Olga Lappo said on Thursday.The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ordered an investigation into what he has called an "airplan catastrophe", his spokeswoman Olga Lappo said on Thursday.
His comments were followed by a tweet by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who said he was "shocked" by reports of a plane crash, and that an investigation was being launched into the incident immediately.
I am shocked by reports that an MH plane crashed. We are launching an immediate investigation.
This video posted online purported to show the aftermath of the crashThis video posted online purported to show the aftermath of the crash
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.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.
Malaysia Airlines posted a tweet on its official account confirming it had "lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam".Malaysia Airlines posted a tweet on its official account confirming it had "lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam".
"The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow.""The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow."
Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow.Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow.
 
Given recent unrest in the area, questions are now likely to be asked about why airlines were still using the route.Given recent unrest in the area, questions are now likely to be asked about why airlines were still using the route.