Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed by more than one "high-energy objects from outside the aircraft," and the points of impact — the cockpit and front fuselage — strongly suggest that the objects came from eastern Ukraine or western Russia, Dutch investigators reported on Tuesday. This preliminary report doesn't explicitly point fingers, but it bolsters the leading theory that pro-Russian separatists, armed by Moscow, shot down the passenger flight, possibly mistaking it for a Ukrainian military jet.
The Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lampur flight was brought down on July 17 over separatist-held territory, killing all 298 people on board. The Dutch investigators ruled out pilot error or mechanical failure. The report is based on data from the plane's flight recorders, photos and video evidence of the crash site, and information from military satellites and radar. The Dutch team will continue analyzing the evidence, and plan to publish their final report next summer.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostagesSpeed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 yearsSpeed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for UkraineSpeed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawaterSpeed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
