Flight MH17 hit by high-speed objects

Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine and broke into pieces in the air after being hit by multiple high-speed objects.

According to AFP, the above information is part of the preliminary report on the investigation into the MH17 plane crash released by the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) on September 9.

“Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 exploded in the air due to structural failure after being hit by high-temperature objects from the outside,” the report stated.

Investigators approach the scene of flight MH17 (Photo: AFP)

According to the above report, "there is no indication that flight MH17 crashed due to technical failure or the pilots."

According to AP, although the DSB report did not clearly state that flight MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, the information provided in the report seemed to support this conclusion.

“The information in this report is completely consistent with the conclusion that the plane was shot down by a missile because there are traces of objects penetrating the aircraft’s skin,” said Christopher Yates, an aviation safety expert at Yates Consulting.

“These objects would have to be travelling at extremely high speeds to cause such damage and only a missile (most likely a BUK surface-to-air missile) could have reached such height and hit the aircraft,” Mr Yates said.

Mr Yates also said the report did not specify whether the missile was launched from the ground or from another aircraft. However, it was likely launched from the ground because no military aircraft were present at the time of MH17's flight.

In addition, Mr. Yates also ruled out the possibility that this missile was launched from a shoulder-launched launcher because it would be difficult to reach the required altitude.

In addition, the DSB report also did not indicate who was responsible for the MH17 plane crash.

“We are only investigating the cause of the accident, not who is responsible,” said DSB spokeswoman Sara Vernooij.

The DSB report was released just days after a ceasefire between the Ukrainian army and opposition forces took effect (September 5) to end the bloody fighting in the east of the country that has killed 2,700 people.

Dutch investigators have been unable to access the MH17 crash site in Donetsk due to heavy fighting there and can only rely on information from Ukrainian crash experts.

Investigators also hope to determine the cause of the crash through data from the plane's black box, images and videos at the scene, as well as information provided by Ukrainian air traffic control.

DBS said the information in its preliminary report included “specific information based on sources available to DBS” while the final report will be released in mid-2015./

According to-VOV.VN