A Ukrainian official said a Malaysian passenger
plane carrying 295 people was shot down
Thursday over a town in the east of the
country, though Malaysia’s defence minister
hasn’t yet confirmed it was an attack. Canada’s
department of foreign affairs said officials
were working to determine if any Canadians
are among the victims Thursday afternoon.
Ukrainian pro-Russia rebels said they didn’t
shoot down the airliner, and instead blame
Ukrainian armed forces, who have also denied
targeting the plane.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he is
launching an “immediate investigation” into
reports of the jetliner crash.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his
condolences in a statement to Razak, conveying
his “most sincere words of sympathy and
support to the family and friends of the
victims.”
Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s
Interior Minister, said on his Facebook page
the plane was flying at an altitude of 10,000
metres (33,000 feet) when it was hit by a
missile fired from a Buk launcher. Ukraine’s
President Petro Poroshenko said his country’s
armed forces did not 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.”
This human tragedy and story has once again
captivated the attention and hearts of people
from all walks of life around the world. We are
all anxiously hoping and praying for the
survival of the 534 passengers and crew on
board Malaysia Flights MH370 and now MH17.
With the sad news recently tweeted by
Malaysian Prime Minister Razak, and the
Malaysian Defense Minister, we must now
further double-down on our attention towards
the devastated MH370 and MH17 families and
friends grieving together for their 534 loved
ones lost, who must now come to terms with
the sad reality of their loved ones' passing in
these two extreme aviation tragedies for
Malaysia Airlines in just over four months.
May the flight MH370 and now flight MH17
families and friends be comforted in the
knowledge that so many people around the
world are praying for them at this extremely
difficult and sad time. Our blessings and
sympathies collectively around the world go
out to all who are touched by the tragedies of
Malaysia Flight MH370 and Malaysia flight
MH17.
Malaysia Airlines is now in the fog of the
greatest crisis in international aviation safety
and security history. - Oliver McGee
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