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MH17: Latest news and developments from Malaysia Airlines disaster

THE grim reality is that victims of MH17 could still be out in the European summer and “subject to the ravages of heat and animals”, Tony Abbott has said.

Matt Young, James Law and Andrew Koubaridis
13 min read
July 23, 2014 - 6:30AM
21 July 2014. The Grabovo main crash site of flight MH17 is today left deserted. Pic Ella Pellegrini
21 July 2014. The Grabovo main crash site of flight MH17 is today left deserted. Pic Ella Pellegrini

THE bodies of passengers from MH17 could be laying among the wreckage and be “subject to the ravages of heat and animals”, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said.

Mr Abbott told reporters this afternoon that bodies of a large number of the 298 victims of the downed airliner had left the scene by train to Kharkov. He said preparations were underway for them to be taken to the Netherlands where they would be received by the Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

But Mr Abbott said there was confusion about exactly how many bodies were in the refrigerated train.

“Based on early inspection we don’t know how many bodies we have.”

“It is quite possible that many bodies are still out there in the open in the European summer subject to interference and subject to the ravages of heat and animals.”

The Prime Minister has “serious concerns” about the collection of the remains.

“It has been up until now quite unprofessional,” he said.

“As long as it’s possible that there are any Australian remains out there we owe it to the families to do our utmost to recover them.”

He said it was “utterly speculative” thousands of well-armed troops would be needed to secure the area but would not discuss how it could be done.

The UN resolution passed this week made clear the site needed to be safe and secure and investigators allowed to work unrestrained.

The Prime Minister intended to ensure that measure was a “reality not just an aspiration”.

He wanted to “stress” Australia would work to achieve that with other countries and within the UN resolution.

Above all, though, was the need to bring all the victims home “as much as is humanely possible”.

“My fear is unless we do more or prepare further possible measures some of them will never come home.” That outcome would be “completely unacceptable” for grieving families, he said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today there could still be Australian victims left at the MH17 scene and he was looking at what options were available to secure the site.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today there could still be Australian victims left at the MH17 scene and he was looking at what options were available to secure the site.

EARLIER TODAY:

• Australian families offered to travel home with the bodies of victims

• ‘Woe is me’: Gabi Grecko in MH17 catfight

• Operation Bring Them Home swings into action

• Where are the rest of the bodies?

• Was Putin right all along? MH17 ‘shot down by mistake’

• Black boxes handed to British investigators

The refrigerated train loaded with bodies of the passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 — but it still remains unclear exactly how many bodies are in there.
The refrigerated train loaded with bodies of the passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 — but it still remains unclear exactly how many bodies are in there.

EARLIER UPDATES:

4.30pm

A GROUND steward at Amsterdam airport who reportedly checked-in all the passengers on flight MH17 has shared her final farewells with the crew and passengers.

Renuka Manisha Virangna Birbal posted on her Facebook page overnight and has since been shared more than 8,000 times.

In her story, she describes her conversations and interactions with the passengers and crew in devastating detail, reports Dutch's largest daily morning newspaper, De Telegraaf.

Translated from Dutch, here's what she said:

A smile, a hug, a happy face…

I work at the transfer desk and one of the two soccer fans has checked-in and the other has not.

“Could you please check me in love?”

They couldn’t be seated next to each other, “Would you like to sit together Sir”?

A bit of hesitation and one joked that he preferred to have a few hours of peace and quiet. “Cheers”.

A lovely family of six with 10 pieces of baggage that need to be checked in. “After long time we’re returning home.”

It was busy at the check-in so I went to the check-in counter to assist my colleagues.

A child is smiling and waving goodbye.

They say, “Thank You” for my help getting them seated next to each other. Excited children are saying, “Mom when will we see our suitcase again?”

The crew is waving and signalling to me that they are ready to drop their luggage.

Another man is about to start a new live in Malaysia.

A family is sent off by their grandparents, the kids will have their first holiday overseas. Grandma is quickly taking photos of her children and grandchildren checking-in. I don’t mind this time to be in these photos too.

A young man arrives at the gate and asks if he has time to buy something. “Of course sir, as long as you’re back before 11.30am.”

My colleagues support an elderly lady to get on-board and get to her seat on row 21. She can’t walk very well and is travelling alone.

The lady had almost the same name as the son of my colleague (one letter difference) and said she would remember the name of her son.

People react for the victims of the MH17 plane crash at Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam, where the doomed flight originated.
People react for the victims of the MH17 plane crash at Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam, where the doomed flight originated.
Two Dutch passports lie in a field amongst luggage, personal belongings and wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
Two Dutch passports lie in a field amongst luggage, personal belongings and wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

I announce that everyone should consider a bathroom break before lining up for boarding, as there are currently no bathroom facilities at gate G03.

A few passengers are leaving the queue.

A woman travelling with her spouse and mother asks her mum if she needs to go to the ladies as the elderly lady has pelvic floor problems. I said she could stay outside the gate a bit longer and board through the priority lane.

Newlyweds are on their way to their honeymoon.

A beautiful little girl was lifted by her mother, her father behind them pushing the pram. What a gorgeous child with big beautiful eyes. She is smiling at me.

Another man who just made it on the flight to attend his mother’s funeral.

The grandchildren who are travelling with their grandparents.

Then I see a familiar face, it is my colleague of the MH ticket desk.

The proud man is introducing me to his son, wife and daughter. He has a big smile when he waves goodbye. “See you soon.”

A woman wants to leave the gate for a toilet break but unfortunately we have started boarding and no-one is allowed to leave the gate. “Can I go first when we are on-board?” But of course.

I quickly walk with the last two passengers that were finally able to join this flight, and they were so pleased.

A last farewell to the crew, till next time!

And then the bridge disconnected.

Passengers on their way for business, on their way home, on their way to family, on their way to their holiday destination, on their way to a new beginning …

Groups travelling, families, couples, singles, babies, children, grandads, grandmums, fathers, sons, daughters, partners, uncles, aunties, colleagues.

I have seen and talked to them last, and wished them a good journey, those passengers of flight MH017 at the 17th of July 2014.

A last smile, a last goodbye, a happy face.

Rest in Peace sweet passengers and crew.

On behalf of the ground handling agents of flight MH017 on Thursday 17-07-2014

Post by Renuka Manisha Virangna Birbal.

3.50pm

While anger has been directed at the rebels in eastern Ukraine, and the Russian forces who allegedly supplied them with the missile that downed MH17, attention is also on who makes decisions about where aircraft can fly.

Sky News reports global leadership from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was urgently needed in all operations in or near areas of hostility.

Pro-Russia rebels guard the area around the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 during monitoring by investigators.
Pro-Russia rebels guard the area around the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 during monitoring by investigators.

3.20pm

Despite the MH370 and MH17 tragedies Malaysia Airlines claims there hasn’t been a massive surge in cancellations or requests for refunds. Yet.

After the loss of MH17 they had offered passengers full refunds on flights booked for the rest of the year.

However, the Wall Street Journal reports Malaysia Airlines has been cancelling flights — although the airline insists that is normal for this time of year.

2.45pm

Anger is continuing to grow around the world at the alleged Russian involvement -and response -to the MH17 disaster

2.20pm

The Dutch Government has placed major advertisements in newspapers listing the almost 200 Dutch victims of the MH17 tragedy.

The country’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte has declared today a national day of mourning.

2.00pm

As if anymore proof was needed the MH17 crash scene was in a state of absolute chaos, News Corp’s Charles Miranda reports local emergency workers have been seen using angle grinders to cut up parts of the cockpit and front fuselage section.

Afterwards they used their van with a steel cable on a tow bar to drag the jet apart, possibly destroying evidence.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister says there has been evidence of “industrial” size tampering of the MH17 wreckage. Today people could be seen using angle grinders to cut up part of the cockpit.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister says there has been evidence of “industrial” size tampering of the MH17 wreckage. Today people could be seen using angle grinders to cut up part of the cockpit.

1:40pm

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has given a late-night speech in Kuala Lumpur.

Post by Najib Razak.

1:30pm

Former US President Bill Clinton has paid tribute to the six AIDS researchers lost on flight MH17 while en route to the Melbourne AIDS 2014 conference.

“The loss of our colleagues and 290 others in what appears to have been a deliberate act is a stark reflection of the negative forces of our interdependence. People who don’t want a future of inclusive economics, inclusive governments, inclusive communities,” he said.

“Those who shot them down represent the other side in our struggle to define interdependence. The open hand against the clenched fist. Cooperation against control. Life against death. It matters not that the murder was meant to be committed against other people.”

1:15pm

12.50pm

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has had a lot to say about Russia’s handling of the MH17 disaster and lashed France for selling weapons to Russia, who is accused of supplying the deadly MH17 missile to separatists in eastern Ukraine.

But a just-released parliamentary report reveals Britain is still exporting arms and military equipment to Moscow — despite promising to stop in March.

12:20pm

It will be cold comfort to family and friends of MH17 passengers but Australian forensic experts believe they wouldn't have suffered during their final moments in the air.

University of Canberra adjunct professor David Royds said if the initial blast did not kill the passengers, a rapid decompression and freezing temperatures at 33,000 feet would have caused instant death.

“Flying at more than 10km above the ground, the midair explosion would have caused the cabin temperature to drop to minus 50C with a sudden drop of air pressure and loss of oxygen,” he said. “That extremely cold environment would have rendered the passengers unconscious within seconds ... It’s very unlikely the passengers would have suffered, there would have been no time to worry.”

11:30am

11:15am

If you're a regular on Twitter, you might be wondering why Tony Abbott has been noticeably quiet on the social media platform?

While the Australian Prime Minister hasn’t posted for six days on Twitter, it’s a different story on Facebook. This came just two hours ago ...

Post by Tony Abbott.

Twitter, though? Different story.

Call on our Prime Minister. Hello?
Call on our Prime Minister. Hello?

11:05am

Australian families affected by the MH17 tragedy will be offered the opportunity to go to the Netherlands to travel home with the bodies of victims, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today.

At least 37 of those who died when the Malaysia Airlines jet was apparently shot down over Ukraine last week — killing all 298 on-board — called Australia home.

“By its very nature, it may take some weeks before we can honour the dead by returning them to those they loved and those that loved them. But we will bring them home,” Abbott said in a statement.

“Once the Australian victims of MH17 have been identified, the government will transport their families to the Netherlands, should they wish, so they can accompany their loved ones home.”

A woman awaits passengers of a plane from Amsterdam at Boryspil International Airport, some 30km east of Kiev. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov
A woman awaits passengers of a plane from Amsterdam at Boryspil International Airport, some 30km east of Kiev. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov

11:00am

10:55am

10:30am

A woman weeps after visiting the crash site of MH17 yesterday. So sad ...

Picture: Rob Stothard
Picture: Rob Stothard

9.55am

Tony Abbott has sent Governor-General Peter Cosgrove to the Netherlands to receive the bodies of the Australians killed in the MH17 disaster.

A train carrying the remains of the victims recovered from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane reached the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight.

The bodies will soon be transferred to the Netherlands for identification and eventual repatriation.

“It is important for the families and for our nation that our people be received by one of our own,” Mr Abbott said in a statement.

A grim-looking PM Tony Abbott with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove after signing an MH17 condolence book in Canberra yesterday.
A grim-looking PM Tony Abbott with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove after signing an MH17 condolence book in Canberra yesterday.

9:25am

Poor Gabi Grecko is at it again.

The on-again, off-again girlfriend of eccentric millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten felt compelled to do some good for the world yesterday.

And by good, she meant dressing in clothing that didn’t reveal her cleavage (lesson learned?) and releasing balloons in honour the 37 Australian victims of the MH17 tragedy.

But backlash against the “model” for using the tragedy as an apparent “PR stunt” compelled Grecko to take to Twitter.

Our advice? Keep it classy, Grecko.

Gabi Grecko releases a small amount of red balloons at Federation Square in Melbourne, to honour the victims of the MH17 disaster.
Gabi Grecko releases a small amount of red balloons at Federation Square in Melbourne, to honour the victims of the MH17 disaster.
For once, Grecko dressed the part.
For once, Grecko dressed the part.

9.15am

Kremlin-backed news channel Russia Today has accused the US and UK mainstream media of biased reporting of the MH17 disaster.

Upon learning that it could be investigated for breaching broadcasting rules of accuracy and impartiality over the its MH17 reports, the channel hit back at the “impartiality and factuality of the mainstream media”, BuzzFeed reports.

“It is sad that the news media of the US and the UK, which has always prided itself on its commitment to asking hard questions of its own government when it comes to domestic politics, in this particular situation is readily swallowing up the party line of the Department of State and the Foreign Office, demanding no proof of their claims,” channel spokeswoman Anna Belinka said.

The comments follow the resignation of Russia Today reporter Sara Firth last week, who said the channel had “total disregard to the facts” over MH17.

9am

Russia has always denied its involvement in the downing of MH17 and now a senior US official has confirmed that the most likely explanation for the MH17 disaster is that it was shot down by mistake.

The official said the US had no evidence that the Russian Government was directly involved with shooting the plane down, Associated Press reports.

“The most plausible explanation … was that it was a mistake,” and that the missile was fired by “an ill-trained crew” using a system that requires some skill and training, the official said.

Evidence gathered so far suggests separatists launched the SA-11 surface-to-air missile that blew up the Malaysian airliner, but it remains unclear “who pulled the trigger” and why, said a senior intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

US satellite and other “technical” intelligence confirmed the airliner with 298 people on board was hit by an SA-11 surface-to-air missile from an area controlled by the pro-Russian rebels.

“It’s a solid case that it’s a SA-11 that was fired from eastern Ukraine under conditions the Russians helped create,” the senior official said.

Was Russian President Vladimir Putin right all along?
Was Russian President Vladimir Putin right all along?

It appeared those who fired the SA-11 missile were relying on a lone radar that is part of a missile battery and not a larger network of radar that would give a more complete picture of air traffic, officials said.

The SA-11 is designed to be used in an “integrated air defence system” but with only one narrow radar beam, the missile launchers have “a much more fuzzy picture,” said a second intelligence official.

Russian operatives have been spotted on the ground in eastern Ukraine but the US intelligence community had no explicit proof that Russians were with the SA-11 unit that fired on the airliner, officials said.

8:50am

The Wall Street Journal have published this comprehensive infograph, well worth a look.

8.40am

8.30am

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia’s resolution to the United Nations Security Council is already taking effect, with investigators finally gaining full access to the MH17 crash site.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Ms Bishop said Russia had “gravely misread the international furore about the way this matter has been handled”, but that there was a change in the country’s attitude once Australia’s resolution gained support.

“This is what President Putin should have done from the outset,” she said.

8:25am

A Boeing C-17 of the Australian air force stands at the Eindhoven Airbase in The Netherlands. The aircraft will, together with aircraft of the Dutch air force, repatriate from Kharkiv to Eindhoven the bodies of those killed in the crash of MH17.

Picture: Jerry Lampen
Picture: Jerry Lampen

8:20am

A group of elderly women from a nearby village shelter from the rain after visiting the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Grabove yesterday. Picture: Rob Stothard
A group of elderly women from a nearby village shelter from the rain after visiting the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Grabove yesterday. Picture: Rob Stothard

8:10am

8:00am

“Mo, you will always be my friend.”

These touching words, etched across a bear, were just one of a number of heartfelt notes left by Scotch College classmates of Mo Maslin, who was on flight MH17 with his siblings Evie and Otis and grandfather Nick Norris when it was shot down.

Tributes to Scotch College student Mo Maslin, who was a victim of the MH17 tragedy.
Tributes to Scotch College student Mo Maslin, who was a victim of the MH17 tragedy.

Sitting among the dozens of flowers at the makeshift memorial at the Swanbourne school in Perth is another. This time on a packet of Starburst — a sign of a gesture in return.

“Your favourite,” it says. “Thank you for sharing Mo.”

SOB.

“Your favourite.”
“Your favourite.”

7.55am

7.45am

One of MH17’s two black boxes. Picture: AFP Photo/AFPTV/Damien Simonart
One of MH17’s two black boxes. Picture: AFP Photo/AFPTV/Damien Simonart

MH17’s black boxes will be handed to British experts for analysis.

Britain’s Prime Minster, David Cameron, announced overnight that its Air Accidents Investigation Branch would take charge of retrieving data from the flight recorders, after a request from the Dutch.

Pro-Russian separatists from eastern Ukraine handed the two black boxes to Malaysian investigators in Donetsk yesterday.

7:25am

7:15am

.

7.10am

There is confusion about the location of all 298 bodies of MH17 victims, with Dutch investigators saying not all of the remains have been removed from the crash site.

Jan Tuinder is leading the team of international experts that is preparing the bodies to be transported to Holland from today.

“As far as we know at this moment we are talking about 200 victims, which means there are probably remains left in the area where this disaster took place,” he said.

“I know that we do have to go back to sweep the (crash) area.”

7am

A priority air corridor between Kharkiv in Ukraine and Eindhoven in The Netherlands will begin today as Operation Bring Them Home swings into action, reports Jacquelin Magnay in Amsterdam.

The remains of Australia’s 37 victims and the remaining passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 were prepared in Kharkiv overnight as Dutch investigators led the process of organising transport into the Dutch military base near Eindhoven.

The first of the bodies will be flown into Holland sometime around lunchtime AEST.

“Recovery of our people remains our first priority,’’ Mr Rutte said. “We will continue until all the victims are at home.”

The bodies will be transported using an Australian plane, a Boeing C-17 as well as a Dutch C-130.

6.50am

An Australian expert in Russian foreign policy and security says justice for the victims of MH17 may prove elusive.

Matthew Sussex from the University of Tasmania said the inter­national investigation into the downing plane would be unlikely to get a satisfying result, he told the Mercury.

Even if an individual perpetrator could be discovered, responsibility would be diff­icult to prove.

“(The USA) may go as far as arming Ukraine but personally I think the conflict will sputter along because both states will go on blaming one another,” Dr Sussex said.

6.31am

A pro-Russian rebel touches the MH17 wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines fight 17, near the village of Grabove, eastern Ukraine. Picture: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
A pro-Russian rebel touches the MH17 wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines fight 17, near the village of Grabove, eastern Ukraine. Picture: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

There is more evidence that the wreckage of MH17 in eastern Ukraine has been tampered with.

International investigators finally received full access to the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight overnight, but discovered that the Boeing 777’s cockpit has been inexplicably sawn in half while under the control of pro-Russian separatists, USA Today reports.

The monitors said large parts of the cockpit and every part of the fuselage had been tampered with.

“The rear part of the aircraft, one of the biggest intact pieces, has definitely been hacked into,” said Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the group of international monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

6.30am

Stay up to date with the latest developments in the MH17 disaster with our live blog, which will be updated throughout the morning.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/mh17-latest-news-and-developments-from-malaysia-airlines-disaster/news-story/c71a79716c8f64cb5c559ea1e0d90a30