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Malaysia airlines flight MH17 crash: 295 feared dead 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)
John McCain has said there will be “hell to pay” if the Russia military or Ukrainian separatists are deemed to have had any involvement in the 'shooting down' of a commercial passenger jet in eastern Ukraine today. Nine British passengers are reported to be among those killed when a passenger jet was 'shot down' over the eastern Ukraine border today.
The US senator said: “If the Malaysian plane was shot down, this is obviously a game changer and has horrific consequences." The Foreign Office has not yet confirmed this, according to ITV News.
“It has the earmarks of a tragic mistake made by someone who had the capability to just shoot down an aircraft, and we know at least from the last couple of weeks that that could be Russian or separatist Russian capability,”   Both pro-Russia rebels and the Ukraine government have denied any involvement after the Malaysian Airlines plane came down over the Donetsk region.
"But if it is the result of either separatist or Russian actions mistakenly believing this was a Ukrainian war plane, I think there’s going to be hell to pay and there should be," he said in an interview on MSNBC, citing previous reports of separatists shooting down Ukrainian fighter planes. Ukraine's Interior Minister said that the aircraft was shot down with 295 people on board.
Both pro-Russia rebels and the Ukraine government have denied any involvement after a Malaysian passenger plane crashed near the Russian border in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. A man works at putting out a fire at the site of the plane crash
Ukraine's Interior Minister said the craft was shot down with 295 people on board. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko rejected claims by Ukraine rebels that Kiev was responsible for the disaster and said his country's armed forces didn't shoot at any airborne targets.
A man works at putting out a fire at the site of the plane crash Anton Gerashenko, an aide to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, wrote on his Facebook page that the Boeing airliner, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was at an altitude of 33,000 feet 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.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said his country's armed forces didn't shoot at any airborne targets.
“We do not exclude that this plane was shot down, and we stress that the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not take action against any airborne targets,” he said. “We are sure that those who are guilty in this tragedy will be held responsible.”“We do not exclude that this plane was shot down, and we stress that the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not take action against any airborne targets,” he said. “We are sure that those who are guilty in this tragedy will be held responsible.”
And Aleksandr Boroday, Prime Minister of Donetsk People's Republic, has rejected any suggestion of aggression by the rebels, who are backed by Russia, and called the incident a “provocation by the Ukrainian military”. In an official statement from the Ukraine government
Anton Gerashenko, an aide to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, wrote on his Facebook page that the Boeing airliner, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was at an altitude of 33,000ft 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.
Earlier, Aleksandr Boroday, Prime Minister of Donetsk People's Republic, denied the jet had been shot down by the rebels, who are backed by Russia, and called the incident a “provocation by the Ukrainian military”.
“We confirm that the plane crashed not far from Donetsk,” Boroday said. “Representatives of Donetsk People's Republic have headed to the scene of the plane search.”“We confirm that the plane crashed not far from Donetsk,” Boroday said. “Representatives of Donetsk People's Republic have headed to the scene of the plane search.”
Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region “Self-defence forces have no air-defence, which could target transport aircraft at that height,” he told Interfax.Emergencies Ministry members work at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region “Self-defence forces have no air-defence, which could target transport aircraft at that height,” he told Interfax.
Russia’s military has also said that none of its military planes have been flying close to the Russia-Ukraine border on Thursday, RIA Novosti reported citing a military official.Russia’s military has also said that none of its military planes have been flying close to the Russia-Ukraine border on Thursday, RIA Novosti reported citing a military official.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 takes off from Schiphol airport near Amsterdam 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. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 takes off from Schiphol airport near Amsterdam John McCain has said there will be “hell to pay” if the Russia military or Ukrainian separatists are deemed to have had any involvement in the 'shooting down' of a commercial passenger jet in eastern Ukraine today.
The US senator said: “If the Malaysian plane was shot down, this is obviously a game changer and has horrific consequences."
“It has the earmarks of a tragic mistake made by someone who had the capability to just shoot down an aircraft, and we know at least from the last couple of weeks that that could be Russian or separatist Russian capability.”
"But if it is the result of either separatist or Russian actions mistakenly believing this was a Ukrainian war plane, I think there’s going to be hell to pay and there should be," he said in an interview on MSNBC, citing previous reports of separatists shooting down Ukrainian fighter planes.
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 not 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.
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.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.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.