MH17: ICAO Assists Ukranian Counterpart On MH17 Investigation

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- Accident investigation experts from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) arrived in Ukraine over the weekend to begin assisting their Ukrainian counterparts with the official accident investigation into the loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. According to a statement, the experts will provide guidance and the relevant aspects of the Convention of International Civil Aviation and Annex 13 to the Convention (Aircraft Accident and Incident Inverstigation). It said the convention would assist in fact finding and ensure all evidence was thoroughly considered to determine how the aircraft and its 298 passengers and crew were tragically lost late last week. ICAO Council president Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu said in the statement that experts would respond to a call for assistance from the State's National Bureau of Incidents and Accidents Investigation of Civil Aircraft. He also encouraged all applicable ICAO Member States to promptly address the needs of the families of the victims of MH17, with the necessary services and information. MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Ukraine near the Russian border. It was carrying 298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew. Ukrainian authorities believe the Boeing 777 aircraft was shot down. MH17 had left Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Netherlands time) Thursday and was to have arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10am (Malaysian time) Friday. -- BERNAMA