Flight MH17 ''hit by numerous objects'': report

Sep 09, 2014

Flight MH17 that crashed over eastern Ukraine split into pieces during flight after being hit by numerous high-speed objects.

THE HAGUE - Flight MH17 that crashed over rebel-held eastern Ukraine split into pieces during flight after being hit by numerous high-speed objects, said a report released by the Netherlands on Tuesday.

"Flight MH17... operated by Malaysia Airlines broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside," said the preliminary report into the disaster that claimed 298 lives, most of them Dutch citizens.

trueMALAYSIA: An urn (C) covered with a national flag containing the ashes of a Malaysia Airlines pilot, Eugene Choo, one of the Malaysians killed in the July 17 MH17 disaster, is seen during a wake service at Eugene's residence in Seremban, some 75 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur on September 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO

The report, which comes almost two months after MH17 was went down, also said the Boeing 777-200 was airworthy when it took off from Amsterdam and was staffed by a "qualified and experienced crew."
"There were no technical problems," the 34-page report stated.

trueNETHERLANDS, THE HAGUE : Students of the Segbroek College pay their last respects during the funeral procession of three victims of the plane crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, in The Hague, on September 8, 2014. One of the victims, a young girl, was a student of the school. AFP PHOTO

The report said the fact that the plane was hit by high-speed objects "explains the abrupt end to data registration on the recorders, the simultaneous loss of contact with air traffic control and the aircraft's disappearance from radar."

The Boeing was blown out of the sky over eastern Ukraine as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, killing all on board including 193 Dutch citizens.

trueMALAYSIA, Seremban : Sons of Malaysia Airlines pilot, Eugene Choo, one of the Malaysians killed in the July 17 MH17 disaster, pray during a wake service at Eugene's residence in Seremban. AFP PHOTO

Kiev and the West accused pro-Russian separatists of shooting down the plane with a surface-to-air missile supplied by Moscow.

Russia, which denies mounting Western claims of direct involvement in the five-month conflict in Ukraine, has blamed government forces for the attack.

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