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MH17 families view plane wreckage at Dutch base | MH17 families view plane wreckage at Dutch base |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Families of those killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine have for the first time seen wreckage of the plane in the Netherlands. | Families of those killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine have for the first time seen wreckage of the plane in the Netherlands. |
Relatives travelled to the Gilze-Rijen military air base to see the charred remains of the aircraft. | |
All 298 people on board the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed. | All 298 people on board the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed. |
Dutch investigators are focusing on suspicion that the plane was downed by a missile on 17 July 2014. | |
The Dutch prosecutor leading the criminal case said on Tuesday it may have been a Buk surface-to-air missile launcher, although it was "too early to rule out other possibilities". | |
A preliminary inquiry report in September said objects had pierced the Boeing 777 at high velocity over the territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. | |
The Ukrainian authorities and the West accuse Russia of supplying the separatists with the missile. Moscow denies the claim, suggesting that Ukrainian troops may have been responsible. | |
At the scene: Anna Holligan, BBC News | At the scene: Anna Holligan, BBC News |
Green blades of grass poke through the fuselage. Puncture marks are visible on the left wing. | Green blades of grass poke through the fuselage. Puncture marks are visible on the left wing. |
It is hard to look at the tangled, mangled mess without picturing the faces of those who were on board, like 17-year-old Elsemiek. | It is hard to look at the tangled, mangled mess without picturing the faces of those who were on board, like 17-year-old Elsemiek. |
Her father, Hans, plans to come to see the wreckage because he says, it all helps a bit and he wants to know "everything". | Her father, Hans, plans to come to see the wreckage because he says, it all helps a bit and he wants to know "everything". |
Every piece of the plane has been meticulously labelled. A cold and clinical collection, such a contrast to the chaos captured at the crash site. | Every piece of the plane has been meticulously labelled. A cold and clinical collection, such a contrast to the chaos captured at the crash site. |
The sections of the aircraft considered "most relevant" to the criminal and aviation investigations are soon to form part of a 3D reconstruction. | The sections of the aircraft considered "most relevant" to the criminal and aviation investigations are soon to form part of a 3D reconstruction. |
The cockpit has been hidden from the journalists' view at the prosecutors' request. These are potentially vital pieces of evidence which, the investigators hope, will help to establish the truth. | The cockpit has been hidden from the journalists' view at the prosecutors' request. These are potentially vital pieces of evidence which, the investigators hope, will help to establish the truth. |
Pieces from the aircraft were brought to the base in the south of the Netherlands late last year as part of the Dutch-led inquiry. | |
The parts were spread across three hangars and included wings, wheels, pieces of fuselage and overhead luggage bins. | The parts were spread across three hangars and included wings, wheels, pieces of fuselage and overhead luggage bins. |
Some fragments were scorched black by fire, while other parts of the plane's thin metal body were scratched, twisted and torn. | Some fragments were scorched black by fire, while other parts of the plane's thin metal body were scratched, twisted and torn. |
Around 500 family members are expected to view the wreckage over the course of the week. | Around 500 family members are expected to view the wreckage over the course of the week. |
Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son, Bryce, and his girlfriend, Daisy Oehlers, were on board the flight, will visit on Saturday. | Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son, Bryce, and his girlfriend, Daisy Oehlers, were on board the flight, will visit on Saturday. |
She said: "It brings it very close to home. It is where they spent their last hours." | She said: "It brings it very close to home. It is where they spent their last hours." |
The Dutch Safety Board is leading the civilian probe and says the final report is likely to be published in October. | The Dutch Safety Board is leading the civilian probe and says the final report is likely to be published in October. |
Its spokeswoman Sara Vernooij said experts were due to start piecing together the parts to help investigators assess the damage and definitively establish the cause. | Its spokeswoman Sara Vernooij said experts were due to start piecing together the parts to help investigators assess the damage and definitively establish the cause. |
Officials denied a report by Dutch public broadcaster NOS that police and prosecutors were being frustrated by the AIVD intelligence service withholding information. | |
Sources within the inquiry team were concerned about a lack of political will to bring the perpetrators to justice, NOS said. | |