Friday, 18 July 2014

MALAYSIA PLANE CRASH: WHAT WE KNOW

Almost 300 people are presumed dead after a Malaysia Airlines jet crashed in eastern Ukraine close to the border with Russia.
Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was flying over the conflict-hit region when it disappeared from radar. Some 283 passengers and 15 crew members were on board._76337758_ukraine_malaysia_plane_976_latest
What type of plane was it?
The crashed plane was a Boeing 777-200ER, the same model as that of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 – Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Crew: 15
Passengers: 280
Left Amsterdam: 10:15 GMT
Lost contact: 14:15 GMT at 10,000m (33,000ft)

What happened?
According to Malaysia Airlines, the plane departed Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport at 10:15 GMT (12:15 local time) on 17 July and was due to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 22:10 GMT (06:10 local time).
The airline lost contact four hours later at 14:15 GMT – 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Footage later emerged of the crash site, and witnesses spoke of dozens of bodies on the ground.
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What caused the crash?
Ukrainian government adviser Anton Herashchenko alleges that the plane was hit by a missile fired by a Buk launcher – a Russian-made, medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
Ukrainian authorities later release a recording they say is a conversation between pro-Russian militants admitting to shooting down the plane.
The US has said the plane was brought down by a missile, but it is unclear who fired it.
Separatist leader Alexander Borodai accused the Ukrainian government of downing the airliner itself.
“Apparently, it’s a passenger airliner indeed, truly shot down by the Ukrainian air force,” he told Russia’s state-run Rossiya 24 TV broadcaster.
Both the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels who have been fighting in the region have denied shooting it down.
Buk surface-to-air missile system
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Also known as SA-11 Gadfly (or newer SA-17 Grizzly)
Russian-made, mobile, medium range system
Weapons: Four surface-to-air missiles
Missile speed (max): Mach 3
Target altitude (max): 22,000 metres (72,000ft)
Source: Global Security
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