Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 reportedly shot down

Another tragedy has struck the families of passengers flying on Malaysia Airlines. A flight that was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam has crashed in eastern Ukraine, according to various major media outlets. The Boeing 777 had 295 passengers and crew on board.

Malaysia Arilines tweeted on Thursday morning that it had lost contact with flight MH17, with its last position being in Ukrainian airspace. Shortly thereafter, reports surfaced indicating the plane had crashed near the border between Russia and Ukraine.

Multiple reports indicate that the jet was shot down, though that has not been confirmed by Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. The plane is said to have been hit by a Ukrainian missile while flying at its cruising altitude of 33,000 feet. All of the passengers and crew that were on board are believed to be dead.

Tensions have increased between the Ukraine and Russia in recent months. On Wednesday, a Russian military plane shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet in Ukrainian air space.

Thursday’s Malaysian Airlines flight crash comes roughly four months after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean.

Photo: Twitter/Mashable