Malaysian Airlines MH17 Crashes in Ukraine

[FlyboyAl]

Deepest sympathy to all the familes. I suspect this is going to be very close to home with the number of Australian on board. If it is true it was shot down, I hope the mongrels who did it feel satisfied at shooting down an unarmed defensless civilian airliner!

 

[markis10]

Even though other airlines were flying this route, its likely MH will take a hit for not being more risk averse.

Prior to this morning there was no perceived risk, not one country or organisation had issued a warning or ban on overflights for the area concerned.

 

[Clivem]

Possibly many US citizens on board also being reported - the ramifications are going to be significant aren't they.............our world is such a strange place ....so much beauty and kindness side by side with so much evil and wrong doing............

 

[zainman]

This is just terrible. RIP

 

[markis10]

Possibly many US citizens on board also being reported - the ramifications are going to be significant aren't they.............our world is such a strange place ....so much beauty and kindness side by side with so much evil and wrong doing............

Still 47 to be accounted for but not one confirmed US on board


154 Dutch
27 Australian
23 Malaysian
11 Indonesian
6 UK
4 German
4 Belgian
3 Philippines
One Canadian

 

[SeatBackForward]

Horrible tragedy, and sympathies to all those affected by this.

Reports that Pro-Russian rebels had shot down a Ukrainian freighter, and my have mistaken this for another.

 

[FlyboyAl]

MH will also be very much under the spotlight on how they handle this. Feel sorry for them as well.

 

[drron]

US intelligence sources have already said it was shot down by a missile.
A few reports postulating that this may have been deliberate so as to cause a no flight zone so that the rebels would then know any aircraft above was Ukrainian.

My condolencies to the families of those who died.
And sympathy for Malaysia and Malaysian airlines who in no way can be accused of wrongdoing.

 

[TomVexille]

This is insane.

 

[robd]

Very distressing news. Sympathies to the loved ones of all on board.

 

[Grooba]

Absolutely speechless.
FT thread discussion already quite in depth.
BREAKING: Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash in Ukraine (July 2014) - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[vitagen]

What a sad story to wake up to... as if MH hasn't gone through enough and the innocents who just died... :/

 

[blackcat20]

Terrible news to wake up to, I can't believe this sort of thing still happens.

 

[Foreigner]

BA, LH, TK and many more airlines have decided to stay away from this volatile area.

 

[artemis]

Terrible news.

It does beg the question as to how airlines assess on a continual basis the shifting geopolitical tensions around the world and how frequently they do so.

My condolences to all involved.

 

[UP4014]

Well someone did a calculation of fuel savings versus liability if a plane was downed.

I'm not even sure they would have done that; calculation of fuel saving and if a plane is shot down, well, that's not our fault is it.

While of course not MH's fault, it would be prudent for them to avoid any conflict areas as they could have mitigated the risk.

I was surprised only now other airlines are avoiding the area.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Why is there a Dutch Spokesman? Any word from the good ol KL boys?

Site access will be an issue apparently..

what other airlines fly through terrorist areas?

 

[UP4014]

Tragic. Reminder of USS Vincennes and IR655.

Yes, and the US govt paid over $130M compensation and the airline still uses this flight number against the regular practise of closing it off and creating a new one.

It should also be remembered the Vincennes and other ships were in the gulf protecting all nations shipping and the Iranian airforce had attacked the protective navy flotilla in the past.

Still, no excuse for shooting at a passenger jet and full blame on the Vincennes Captain.

There was a doco made on Vincennes aka Robo Cruiser.

Matt

 

[JohnK]

I switched my computer on a few minutes ago and this is the first thing I saw. Initially I thought it was a story on MH370 but then realised this is new.

Unbelievable. Tragic. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

what other airlines fly through terrorist areas?

https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/489843415002001408

Apparently SQ and AI