As many as 100 bodies from Malaysia Flight 17 have not been handed over by the pro-Russian separatists controlling the crash site in Ukraine, a State Department spokeswoman said Wednesday. "We don't have exact numbers," Marie Half told reporters at a briefing. "Obviously, it is critical that international investigators, led by the Dutch, receive immediate and full access to the crash site." She said access had improved but U.S. officials are still "troubled" by reports of looting, evidence-tampering and failure to ensure all the remains are turned over to the Dutch.
The bodies of 40 victims were flown to the Netherlands on Wednesday, and more are expected in the next few days. There were 298 people aboard the plane when it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Investigators say the Boeing 777's black box voice and data recorders have also been handed over and the information on them is being downloaded and analyzed.
IN-DEPTH
- Ukraine Crash Bodies Land in Holland
- Probe Finds No Tampering With Jet's Cockpit Recorder
- Dutch Mayor Sorry for Proposing Expulsion of Putin's Kid
