A Malaysian plane has been shot down in the Ukraine.

[WeAreEternal]

The flight mh17 from Amsterdam to kuala lumpor with 295 people on board, it was a boing 777.
It was shot down with a buk ground to air missile.
They say there are no survivors.

It's awful.

nikki I'm so very sorry for your friends and family.

I can't stop thinking about the Australian family where mum and dad stayed in Amsterdam for a couple of days themselves and sent their 3 children and father back to Perth. Just doesn't bear thinking about.

I just have to hope when the plane was hit it was instant and the passengers knew nothing.

Same here crutchlow impossible to comprehend what those parents are going through.

This is weighing very heavily on me. It actually could have happened to anyone. Feels very close to home.

Apologies for the self involved post - my dh and I are flying to kl, with MA, in 2 weeks on our honeymoon. I'm terrified already

Oh that's awful, Nikki

Looking, I know this is probably no comfort, but it's probably about the safest time to fly in the next few weeks. Airlines have altered their flight paths in the light of recent events; no airline will be flying over Ukraine as it is now closed airspace to commercial flights, and all airlines will be looking very closely at their routes in general, and all other security and safety issues. Try and stay focussed on your lovely honeymoon. But I do understand you feeling anxious.

So sorry to all those here whose friends or family have lost someone.

Thank you Selks, I appreciate it. Im a very anxious flyer anyway, I was nervous enough after the missing MA flight! The poor families, it could've been anyone, apparently 300 commercial planes flew over the same airspace that day.

I also have sympathy for the airline itself, assuming they're unrelated incidences (which I'm telling myself they must be), it's the worst luck.

Watched the Channel Four news report tonight. By now the authorities would have been able to access the site, recover the bodies, start the investigation. Ther rebels aren't letting them near. It's an abomination, not just to the basic dignity of the poor victims still lying exposed to the elements, but to the likelihood of carrying out a thorough impartial investigation. It's awful.

I've just heard tonight that four of my cousin's (based in Kuala Lumpur) Dutch work colleagues were on the plane... they were on their way back to work after being home on hols. Horrendous

It's abhorrent. My sympathies to your cousin and the families.

I also read that full access isn't being granted. How disgraceful. There are peoples families and loved ones there, the least they deserve is to be recovered, returned and buried with dignity. My heart aches for them all.

Flight paths: www.flyertalk.com/forum/23217491-post24.html

Malaysia, Singapore, Thai, and KLM had all been using this path.

British Airways and Air France were avoiding

Lufthansa also using it.

There are tweets on twitter saying that bank cards of the victims have been used. The rummaging through of the bags and belongings are just horrendous, then of course no proper investigators having full access is just terrible.

The poor, poor families of those victims, they must feel so helpless.

I just cannot believe the footage being shown of personal belongings on the news, it is desperately unfair on the families... It would not be happening if the crash site was properly sealed off, I can't believe the local authorities haven't done this although I suppose it's difficult in a war zone

It's awful. I saw a child's toy being held up in one photo. Really do relatives want to see that on the BBC website when their last memory of the toy is of their nephew/granddaughter/etc cuddling up to it? They should be able to go through the belongings at their own pace.

There are tweets on twitter saying that bank cards of the victims have been used.

It may be crass but as I read this I think about The Sun's coverage of Hillsborough. I'd suggest not believing the really sensationalist stuff until it's confirmed by a reputable source.

Huh. Did they ask the deceased for their PIN numbers?

Tbh, looking at the villages where it happened, I don't even think I'd blame the residents if they 're-homed' a few cameras and such. On the same count, it seems a tiny bit unlikely that they've managed to access facilities to change the PIN codes on bank cards in one day. I may be wrong, but ...

I've seen the same images captioned in different media as 'rescuers search the site' and 'villagers loot the site'. I also remember during Katrina white people were 'finding supplies' while black people were 'looting'...

I'd like to believe that people are helping, rather than robbing.

This is stupid compared to the things that could be upsetting me about this but this is upsetting me most of all. When I saw the news yesterday I said to DH in shock "Oh my God, a plane's been shot down". DS (5) overheard and asked me if the people had to slide down the special slides. We fly fairly often because we live abroad and I didn't want to scare him so I said "Yes darling I expect they did."

I couldn't tell him that they all died :( I know it's right to protect him from it, and we don't watch the news so he won't have seen pictures etc but for some reason that's just upsetting me so much.

Just needed to tell someone. :(

Bertie you did exactly the right thing.

Bertie, I'm 28.

I wish someone could have told me that. We all need protecting at times.

If you can protect a 5 year old from the horrors in this world, then do so.

There are enough people living it.

I'm still aghast at this, and sickened at the huge loss of life, and some of the pictures I've seen.

My blood runs colds every time I think of it. I didn't watch any news yesterday at all. It is too sickening for me.

I was fine, detached, until I saw the news and a photo of a child's toy monkey lying on a pile of suitcases. DD has a toy monkey, had it since she was one and it still sits proudly at the head of her bed. Seeing that toy then putting DD to bed and seeing "Monkey Monk Monk" was my undoing. Those poor people, those poor families seeing their loved ones belongings lying lonely on the ground instead of in their hands.

Devastating. I wish they didn't report quite so openly, wish the families didn't have to see that.

You said the right thing, Bertie. I'm hoping my ds(9) doesn't pick up on the story.

Action is needed to secure the site now to allow a proper investigation and recovery. At the moment the people most likely to be responsible are preventing access. I hope the Dutch government is leading an effort behind the scenes to get access secured by whatever means necessary.