MH17 initial probe findings expected later this year

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) – Preliminary findings into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine two years ago are expected to be received before the end of 2016, according to Malaysia's transport minister Saturday.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down in the troubled Ukrainian state of Donetsk on July 17, 2014, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board.

In a statement released on the second anniversary of the tragedy, Liow Tiong Lai said the conclusion on the forensic research conducted on the flight would feature in the preliminary findings.

It underlined that Malaysia is working with its fellow members in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine to bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

"With JIT’s criminal investigations ongoing, we hope to receive the preliminary conclusions on the forensic research conducted, including on the type of weapon that was used and other pertinent details, by the later part of this year,” the minister said.

"We hope the international community will continue to lend us their support in ensuring the perpetrators of this tragedy are held accountable for their action," added Liow, representing the investigative team.

The JIT also reiterated its call for safer skies around the world.

It highlighted the need to strengthen international cooperation to improve security standards in civil aviation, including the implementation of real time global tracking of commercial aircraft as well as addressing the risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones.

Of the causalities from MH17, 193 were nationals of the Netherlands, 43 of Malaysia and 27 of Australia.

At the time MH17 was shot down, fierce fighting was taking place in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government troops. Russia has denied its troops were operating in Ukraine at the time.

Last year, the Dutch Safety Board concluded MH17 was hit by a Russian-made Buk missile.

The Russian government has challenged the findings, with the makers of Buk missile systems, Almaz-Antey, saying that experiments proved that one of its missiles could not have been launched from areas under pro-Russia separatist control.