Wanneer: jaarlijks, 17 juli.
July 17 commemorates the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 (MH17). The plane was downed by a missile on July 17, 2014. It was a Russian anti-aircraft missile, fired from eastern Ukraine. This put the blame on Russian separatists in the east of the country, aided by Russia. In both cases, the parties denied being guilty of bringing down the aircraft. The blame was shifted to Ukrainian forces.
298 occupants
On board the aircraft were 298 occupants, including 15 crew members. 196 were of Dutch nationality. The 15 members of the crew all had Malaysian nationality. The total number of Malaysian casualties was 28. In addition, 28 occupants with Australian nationality died. Furthermore, occupants from Indonesia (12), UK (10), Belgium (4), Germany (4), Philippines (3), Canada (1) and New Zealand (1) die.
Tenerife
The unreal number of victims, including a large number of Dutch victims immediately brought to mind another terrible event from the past. That was the disaster that took place on the Canary Island of Tenerife on Sunday March 27, 1977. Only this Tenerife air disaster, which claimed 583 victims (234 of whom were Dutch nationals), was not caused by what brought down Flight MH17. Flight MH17 was brought down by a missile. Shot off from a mobile missile facility.
Aftermath and question of guilt
The aftermath and the question of guilt are far from settled. Even after there has been a trial. Even after it was judged by independent investigators that the missile was fired from a separatist-controlled area.A missile that came from the Russian army’s 53rd brigade in Kursk (source).
Even after the Dutch and Australian governments held Russia liable for its part in the downing of Flight MH17 (source), the country refused to cooperate with further investigations. This was the case from the beginning.
The court in the Netherlands has now ruled on who is at fault (source) and yet the suspects are walking free. That’s also something to think about on July 17.
July 17 is the day when we remember July 17, 2014. The day when MH17, a civilian airliner, was involved in a military conflict. In which none of the occupants survived the attack on this aircraft.
More information
The following information is available in Dutch.
The following information is available in English.
Pictured with this entry: the aircraft in Perth, Australia. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Information about the image at the top of this page:
Remembrance of Flight MH17.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Remembrance of Flight MH17.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
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