This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29119024

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
MH17 crash: Dutch experts to publish preliminary report MH17 crash: Dutch experts say numerous objects hit plane
(about 7 hours later)
Dutch experts are due to publish the first report into what caused the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to crash in eastern Ukraine in July. Dutch experts say Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being hit by "numerous objects" that "pierced the plane at high speed".
The Dutch Safety Board is leading an international probe to try to piece together evidence on what happened. A report released by the Dutch Safety Board said there was "no evidence of technical or human error".
All 298 people on board, most of them from the Netherlands, died when the plane came down, amid reports it was shot down by pro-Russian rebels. All 298 people on board died when the plane came down, amid reports it was shot down by pro-Russian rebels.
But the search for evidence has been hampered by heavy fighting in the area. The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in eastern Ukraine.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the region of Donetsk. Dutch aviation investigators relied on information from the black box flight data recorders, air traffic control, satellite images and photos from the scene to compile the preliminary report.
Dutch aviation investigators are relying on information from the black box flight data recorders, air traffic control, satellite images and photos from the scene to compile the preliminary report. They said the plane "broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-speed objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside."
While it is not the final report into the crash, Tuesday's findings are significant because they will be the first official account of what happened, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague. The cockpit voice recorder revealed no signs of any technical faults or an emergency situation, the experts said.
However, it will not attribute blame or liability for the crash, she adds. Criminal investigation
Experts from the UK, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the US, Ukraine and Russia are collaborating on the case. While it is not the final report into the crash, the findings are significant because they are the first official account of what happened, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in the Netherlands.
The board says it expects the final report to be published within a year. The report does not attribute blame or liability for the crash but a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by prosecutors in The Hague, she adds.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the region of Donetsk on 17 July.
Ukraine's government and several Western leaders say there is strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk.Ukraine's government and several Western leaders say there is strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk.
Russia has consistently denied allegations that it had supplied any missiles or weapons to the rebels.Russia has consistently denied allegations that it had supplied any missiles or weapons to the rebels.
Experts from the UK, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the US, Ukraine and Russia are collaborating on the case.
The board says it expects the final report to be published within a year.