MH17 investigation results

Released on Oct. 13, a report on the Dutch Safety Board’s investigation into the July 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine blamed a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile for downing the plane and killing all 298 people on board.

The board did not have the authority to assign blame regarding who fired the missile. Ukraine, the US and NATO have blamed Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, while the rebels and Russia have blamed Ukrainian armed forces. Both Ukraine and the rebels have the equipment to fire Buk missiles. 

The investigation also found that Ukrainian officials had sufficient reason to close the airspace around the rebel-held eastern provinces before the crash but failed to do so.