Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, UN aviation council rules
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UN body makes landmark ruling on flight MH17
- The UN aviation council has ruled Russia responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which killed all 298 people on board.
- The council agreed with Australia and the Netherlands that Russia failed to uphold its obligations under international air law.
- The Boeing 777 aircraft was allegedly shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine. Intense fighting was going on at the time between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.
- Russia continues to deny responsibility for the incident, while Australia and the Netherlands seek negotiations for reparations. Ninety-six Dutch citizens and 38 Australians were killed in the incident.
- A Dutch court previously convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian of murder in absentia for their roles in the downing, but Russia refused extradition.