Flight MH17: German government 'failed to communicate change in security situation' days before plane was shot down over Ukraine

A report claims that German intelligence repeatedly warned of a risk to aviation security

A piece of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Donetsk (AFP/Getty Images)

Germany's government was warned of the risk of flying over eastern Ukraine just days before Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down but did not communicate a change in situation to airlines, reports have said.

German media reported that diplomatic cables were sent two days before the fatal crash which said the situation had become "very alarming".

According to German public TV channels NDR and WDR, and Sueddeutsce Zeitung, foreign ministry cables assessed the downing of a military plane on 14 July of a Ukranian air force plane at a height of 6,000m (20,000ft).

The incident was cited as a significant development due to the aircraft’s altitude at the time. The report adds that German intelligence had repeatedly warned of a risk to aviation security.

Three days later, flight MH17 was shot down over by "a large number of high-energy objects" at 10,000m (33,000ft) as it travelled from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on 17 July.

The crash of the Boeing 777 jet resulted in the deaths of all 298 people on board.

A Lufthansa source told German media that "no communication was given" to the airline regarding a change in the security situation.

Ukraine and the West blamed the downing of the flight on Russian-backed separatists in the east of Ukraine, with many claiming it was a surface-to-air missile that hit the plane.

A completed report of an investigation into the crash is expected mid-2015.