An extremely unfortunate incident broke past night at around 9 when another Malaysian Airlines Aircraft Boeing 777-200 met a fatal tragedy in the region of Eastern Ukraine. The flight was bound to Kaula Lumpur from 
Amsterdam and was carrying 294 passengers and 15 crew members. The flight was flying above the conflict zone of Eastern Ukraine, close to the Ukraine-Russia border.
According to the official confirmation, this flight was shot down from the ground by the insurgents using the ‘buk’ missiles.
The plane was flying at a height of 33,000 feet from the ground when it was shot down. The plane collapsed in an open field. Video’s showed smoke arising from the accident spot. Large debris of the plane was scattered on the field while soldiers and emergency help was provided immediately after the incident.
Several mutilated bodies were found lying on the ground at the accident sight. A partof the plane was found at some distance away from the accident spot. And all of these suggested that the plane was actually shot down from the ground.
Malaysia immediately sent its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance, Rescue Team and a medical team by a special flight to Keiv yesterday, after launching a probe into this tragedy.
Minutes after the incident, Malaysian Airlines tweeted that it had lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam and that the last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. The airlines issued a press statement last night at around 12:30 am.
In its statement the airlines said, “Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border. Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day. The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak tweeted that he was shock by reports of an MH plane shot down. In his press statement he said, “We must – and we will – find out precisely what happened to this flight. No stone can be left unturned.”
“If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice,” he further added.
“This is a tragic day”, the Prime Minister said, “In what has already been a tragic year, for Malaysia. As we work to understand what happened, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those onboard the flight.I cannot imagine what they must be going through at this painful time. The flight’s passengers and crew came from many different countries. But today, regardless of nationality, we are all united in grief.”
Soon after this incident, markets in the United States and Europe reportedly drooped. While Malaysia’s Prime Minister is in touch with world leaders, President Obama spoke to Russia’s President Putin over phone.
The White House’ Press Secretary issues a statement on this incident saying, “The United States is shocked by the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, and we offer our deep condolences to all those who lost loved ones on board. We continue to seek information to determine whether there were any American citizens on board.”
Ukraine meanwhile has released taped where-in pro-Russians are being heard discussing about shooting of the plane.
Capt. Shekhar Gupta, CEO of AeroSoft Corporation told Spectralhues, “Its Exteremely Unfortunate for Aviation Industry in general and is highly demotivating for all of us. It’s a high tech attack by very high tech weapon that happened within matter of minutes.” Capt. Gupta added 
that flying in risk prone areas need to be avoided.
In the aftermath of this catastrophic incident, major airlines like Air India, Jet Airways, Aeroflot, Air France, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines have decided to change their routes. These companies have decided to not let their flight fly from above the conflict zone.
The Times of India quoted Air India’s Chief Managing Director, Rohit Nandan who said, “None of our flights will overfly Ukraine till further orders. The instructions have been issued with immediate effect.”
This incident happens months after another Malaysian Airlines Aircraft MH-370 went missing. The aircraft is still not found.
Tags: Malaysian airlines Malaysian flight Ukraine
