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The wreck of the MH17 aircraft
Image: Peter Dejong/AP Photo/dpa/picture allianceImage: Peter Dejong/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

Flight MH17

Malaysia Airline Flight MH17 was an international flight carrying 298 people. On July 17, 2014 the plane was shot down while flying above eastern Ukraine, killing all on board.

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All Content on this topic

A close up photo of the centerpiece of the MH17 memorial in Vijfhuizen in the Netherlands: a silver disc with the names of the 298 on board the plane who died etched on to it. Image from July 10, 2024.

Australia, Netherlands lead MH17 commemorations, 10 years on

Australia's PM said the country was "steadfast" in seeking "truth, justice and accountability from those responsible."
PoliticsJuly 17, 2024
The MH17 wreckage in a warehouse

MH17 probe links Putin to missile that brought down plane

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely provided the missile that shot down the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine.
CatastropheFebruary 8, 2023
Judges and investigators inspect the wreckage of Flight MH17. In the image of the severely damaged cockpit area of the plane, one official is visible through the gaps in the fuselage, inspecting the plane from within.

MH17 case against Russia is admissible, European court rules

The European Court of Human Rights decides a case against Russia from Ukraine and the Netherlands should go to trial.
Law and JusticeJanuary 25, 2023
The Hague District Court in session to deliver MH17 verdict on Thursday

Netherlands summons Russian ambassador over MH17

Russia had said the Dutch court "neglected impartiality" in delivering the MH17 verdict that convicted three men.
PoliticsNovember 18, 2022
Goncharenko Roman

Opinion: MH17 ruling gives glimpse of Putin's possible fate

Roman Goncharenko
The conviction of three men on murder charges in the 2014 MH17 downing could serve as a model for a Ukraine tribunal.
Law and JusticeNovember 17, 2022
Debris from the MH17 crash

MH17 trial: What you need to know

The main trial in the case of the Boeing 777 shot down over eastern Ukraine has come to a close in the Netherlands.
Law and JusticeNovember 17, 2022
Members of the a Dutch court observe the reconstruction of crashed flight MH17 as part of a trial in May 2021

MH17 trial: 3 suspects convicted over role in 2014 crash

A Dutch court has delivered its long-awaited verdict over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
Law and JusticeNovember 17, 2022
Workers stand outside a partially destroyed educational and laboratory building of a college hit the day before by a rocket in Kharkiv

Russia-Ukraine updates: Moscow may seek to retake Kharkiv

Russia may be seeking to take over Kharkiv. Ukraine's Zelenskyy fired his head of state security. DW has the latest.
PoliticsJuly 18, 2022
Ukraine Gedenkstätte Opfer des Flugs MH17

MH17 families suffer continuing loss and anger

Seven years after the MH17 disaster, victims' families are having their days — and say — in court.
PoliticsSeptember 23, 2021
DW Podcast | Inside Europe | provisorisch f ROAD

Inside Europe 23.09.2021

Geopolitical realignment: AUKUS and the fallout from France’s nuclear snub-marine - A neighbourly dispute along the Czech /Polish border - Will relatives of the victims of Malaysian Airways Flight 17 finally find closure? - An unlikely ally mourns the end of the Merkel era - A tall tale from the Netherlands - British comedy actor granted honorary citizenship in Serbia - and more
PoliticsSeptember 23, 202154:59 min
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World Stories - The Week in Reports

Flight MH17 crash trial, lost school year for children and rescue effort for Kenya's coral.
PoliticsJune 19, 202112:35 min
The courtroom where the trial began in March 2020

MH17 plane crash trial starts hearing evidence

Dutch judges will begin to hear evidence on the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight in which almost 300 people died.
CrimeJune 7, 2021
Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis and other trial judges and lawyers view the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

MH17 trial judges get first look at cockpit and fuselage

Judges and lawyers were permitted to view wreckage and survey the extent of the damage of the downed airliner.
ConflictsMay 27, 2021
Mark Rutte and Scott Morrison in Sydney

Australia slam Russia's withdrawal from MH17 talks

Australia said it was "pursuing truth" in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight.
PoliticsOctober 16, 2020
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flight crashes in east Ukraine

Russia halts MH17 talks with Netherlands, Australia

Moscow has accused the two countries of "viciously" trying to pin the blame on Russia.
PoliticsOctober 15, 2020
The ruined nosecone of the downed Flight MH17, in storage in the Netherlands. Archive image from 2018.

Netherlands to take Russia to court over MH17 downing

The Dutch government said it hopes to achieve "truth, justice and accountability" for the 298 victims.
Law and JusticeJuly 10, 2020
Empty chairs in the Hauge symbolize MH17 victims

MH17 trial resumes in the Netherlands

Lawyers defending four pro-Russia militia members claim coronavirus travel restrictions have hampered their case.
SocietyJune 8, 2020
MH17 justice rally

MH17 trial starts despite suspects' absence

It's been almost six years since 298 people lost their lives when the Malaysia Airlines MH17 was downed over Ukraine.
Law and JusticeMarch 9, 2020
Silent chair protest in front of the Russian Embassy in The Hague

MH17 relatives hold 'empty chair' protest

Protesters in The Hague lined up 298 chairs to symbolize each of the victims of the shot-down passenger jet.
CatastropheMarch 8, 2020
Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin

Germany's policy on Russia: Silence implies consent

Perception — not what actually happened — is everything. That is why it is imperative to talk to Russia in clear terms.
PoliticsDecember 23, 2019
Armed pro-Russian separatists stand guard as monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and members of a Malaysian air crash investigation team inspect the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

MH17 families seek answers as suspects face trial

Like others affected by the tragedy, Piet Ploeg hopes the upcoming trial will bring those responsible to justice.
CrimeDecember 8, 2019
Vladimir Tsemakh (L), an Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the downing of flight MH17, smiles as he speaks with his lawyer after the verdict of the court of appeal

Dutch prosecutors: Russia let MH17 suspect flee

A suspect in the downing of MH17 over Ukraine was allowed to leave Russia despite personal pleas from Dutch PM Rutte.
CrimeDecember 3, 2019
Eggert Konstantin

Specter of MH17 haunts Kremlin

Konstantin Eggert
Russian involvement in the downing of flight MH17 could lead all the way to the Kremlin.
PoliticsNovember 20, 2019
Pro-Russian separatist standing near the crash site of Malaysia Airline Flight MH17

MH17 investigators link plane crash to Russian officials

Dutch investigators say they intercepted calls that implicate the Russian government in the MH17 downing.
PoliticsNovember 14, 2019
MH17 key witness is released ahead of Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap

Ukraine court releases key MH17 witness

A suspect in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 has been freed ahead of a Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap.
PoliticsSeptember 5, 2019
MH17 wreck after reconstruction in the Netherlands

MH17 downing: What you need to know

International Investigators blame pro-Russia rebels for the 2014 tragedy, and have started naming suspects.
ConflictsJuly 17, 2019
Reconstructed remnants of the MH17 plane shot down over Ukraine in 2014

Five years after MH17: What happens next?

A Dutch court is set to try four suspects for the 2014 air disaster; DW examines the investigation and legal aspects.
ConflictsJuly 17, 2019
Symbolbild EU-Erweiterung

Inside Europe 20.06.2019

Is press freedom under threat in France? – Tension in the waters off Cyprus - Dutch investigators identify four suspects in their Flight MH17 probe – The tale behind Trdelnik - Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris - Fact checking in the era of 'fake news' - World Refugee Day: the number of displaced people reaches a record high - Sport helps rebuild the lives of refugee women in Berlin.
PoliticsJune 21, 201955:00 min
Niederlande Pk der internationalen Ermittler zum Abschuss Flug MH17

Inside Europe: Suspects named over downing of MH17

An international team of investigators during the week identified four suspects in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine nearly five years ago. Keith Walker hears the latest with DW's Ukraine correspondent, Nick Connolly.
PoliticsJune 21, 201904:44 min
A damaged missile on display when the MH-17 panel presented its findings

Malaysia says MH17 probe scapegoats Russia

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's comments are at odds with the Malaysian representative on the team.
CatastropheJune 20, 2019
Flight MH17 mangled nose

MH17 investigators name suspects to face murder charges

The team had linked the BUK missile which brought down the Malaysia Airlines plane with the Russian army.
CrimeJune 19, 2019
Eggert Konstantin

Opinion: What Trump thinks of Putin is irrelevant now

Konstantin Eggert
US-Russia policy is now wholly in the hands of Congress, which bodes badly for the Kremlin, writes Konstantin Eggert.
PoliticsAugust 21, 2018
Pro-Russian separatists in Armored Personnel Carriers near Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2015

EU extends Russian sanctions

EU leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for six more months over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
PoliticsJune 29, 2018
A firefighter puts out flames from the crash of MH17 in eastern Ukraine

Netherlands, Australia say Russia liable for MH17 downing

Dutch and Australian officials say they could now possibly take the case against Russia to an international court.
CatastropheMay 25, 2018
Ukraine Jahrestag Absturz MH17 Gedenken an Opfer in Kiew

Investigators: MH17 downed by Russian missile

The missile that brought down the jet allegedly came from a Russia-based military unit.
CatastropheMay 24, 201801:56 min
MH17 wreckage

Russian missile downed MH17: investigators

Investigators have said analysis of video images showed missile used to down MH17 came from a Russian military unit.
ConflictsMay 24, 2018
Flowers laid on a piece of the Malaysia Airlines plane MH17

MH17 victims honored on anniversary

A commemoration has been held in the Netherlands three years after a Malaysia Airlines plane went down over Ukraine.
CatastropheJuly 17, 2017
The Dutch memorial for the victims of flight MH17

MH17 'Dutch 9/11' memorial gives sorrow a place

Dutch artist Ronald A. Westerhuis has created a monument to remember the victims of flight MH17.
SocietyJuly 17, 2017
Australien | Angehörige gedenken den Absturzopfer von Malaysia-Airlines-Flug MH17

Russia called to cooperate with MH17 probe

Protesters call on Moscow to stop obstructing a probe into the 2014 crash of a Malaysia Airlines plane in Ukraine.
Law and JusticeJuly 16, 2017
Merkel and Putin

Putin to visit Berlin

German Chancellor Merkel is due to meet the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and France in Berlin on Wednesday.
ConflictsOctober 18, 2016
MH17 debris on fire after it was downed

Investigators: Russian missile downed MH17

Investigators say the MH17 was brought down by a BUK surface-to-air missile from separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.
CatastropheSeptember 28, 2016

'BUK missile brought down MH17'

Investigators: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine downed by a Buk missile.
CatastropheSeptember 28, 2016
Crash site MH17

Malaysia Airlines settles damages over MH17

Lawyers representing families of the 196 Dutch victims of flight MH17 said that a majority had reached an agreement.
July 18, 2016
Malaysian Airlines plane

CEO on Malaysia Airlines' woes

Malaysia Airlines' CEO Christoph Müller tells DW that the airline is on course to break even by 2018.
June 10, 2016
Ukraine Trümmer Malaysia Airlines Flug MH17

Australian law firm files claims on Russia over MH17

An Australian law firm has filed a claim against Russia and President Putin on behalf of victims of flight MH17
CatastropheMay 21, 2016
Debris of the downed plane in eastern Ukraine (Photo: EPA)

Bellingcat: New evidence against Russian soldiers on MH17

Eliot Higgins of Bellingcat explains why his group claims Russian soldiers were involved in the downing of MH17.
January 5, 2016
Rückblick 2015 Social Media Blogger

The faces behind 2015's influential hashtags

Behind every trending hashtag is a person, and the year 2015 was no exception.
December 28, 2015
A plane flies in the sky above a Buk missile system

Looking for a smoking gun

Russia seems to be going out of its way to say that it wasn't its missile that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
October 18, 2015
Barbara Wesel Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

MH17 and no end in sight

Barbara Wesel
The final report into the investigation of the MH17 crash did not clearly state the cause of the disaster.
October 13, 2015
Niederlande Rekonstruktion MH17

Digital detectives investigate MH17 crash

A group of citizen journalists have conducted their own investigation into what brought down MH17.
October 13, 2015