WEB DESK
International investigators probing the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 made their interim findings public on Thursday in the Dutch town of Bunnik.It found that a surface-to-air missile shot down MH17 on July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. The majority of the passengers were Dutch nationals. The Boeing 777 was on a routine flight between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur.
The findings of the probe
The Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was transported from a Russian military brigade.
The missile was fired from the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk.
All the vehicles in a convoy carrying the missile were part of the Russian armed forces.
‘Still work to be done’
Chief investigator Fred Westerbeke said the probe was now in its “last phase” but added there was “still work to be done.” He did not say how long the probe would take.
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The investigators have presented their findings to Moscow and are seeking answers, but have yet to receive a response.
The team called on the public, including friends and families of the members of Russia’s 53rd brigade, to assist in their inquiries into the incident and come forward with details about the crew operating the missile system.
International investigators have said detailed analysis of video images showed the missile used to down the Malaysian flight came from a Russian military unit. Russia has always denied involvement in the incident.
