THE Dutch Safety Board has confirmed that the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014, which killed all 298 people onboard was caused by the detonation of a 9N314M-type warhead launched from the eastern part of Ukraine.
Investigations revealed that the aircraft progressed normally up to the moment when the plane was flying over the eastern part of Ukraine. At 13.20 UTC, a 9N314M warhead, launched by a Buk surface-to-air missile system from a 320km2 area in the eastern part of Ukraine, detonated on the left side of the cockpit.
The forward section of the aircraft was penetrated by hundreds of high-energy objects coming from the warhead. As a result of the impact and the subsequent blast, the three crew members in the cockpit were killed immediately and the plane broke up in the air. Wreckage was distributed over various sites within an area of 50km2.
Tjibbe Joustra, chairman of the Dutch Safety Board unveiled the final report yesterday but did not say who fired the missile.
According to a report in The Star today, Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak said criminal investigation led by the Dutch with Malaysia’s full support, must give definitive answers and allow for the “strongest action” against those responsible.
Malaysia Airlines said in a media statement yesterday that it will continue to support families until all issues are resolved.
