Photo: Shutterstock Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, Europe is once again remembering the 298 people who never reached their destination. Among them were 80 children and citizens from 17 countries, making it one of the deadliest tragedies in modern aviation history.
Crash site of Malaysia Airlines MH17. Photo: Alexander Gafarro / Shutterstock.comOn July 17, 2014, the Boeing 777 was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was brought down, killing everyone on board. The disaster not only devastated families across the world, but also changed the conversation around aviation safety and flying over conflict zones.
In a statement marking the 12th anniversary of the tragedy, the European Union expressed its "deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims" and reiterated its support for efforts to establish "truth, justice and accountability."
Across Europe, Australia, Malaysia, and beyond, families continue to honor the loved ones they lost on Flight MH17. Twelve years later, the names, faces, and stories of the 298 victims remain an enduring part of aviation history.
As the world marks another anniversary, the message from European leaders is clear: the pursuit of truth and accountability continues, but so too does the commitment to never forget those who were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Found part from the missing Malaysian plane. Photo: ShutterstockAt the end of June, the Malaysian government announced a one-year extension of its agreement with Ocean Infinity in order to continue the search for the remains of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, another aircraft that disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March 2014 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.