Three infants were among the 283 passengers presumed dead in a Malaysia Airlines jet that crashed and is thought to have been shot down over a disputed area of Ukraine, the airline announced Thursday. The new information raises the total presumed death toll to 298, which includes 15 crew members.
The dead include 154 citizens of the Netherlands; 43 from Malaysia, including 15 crew members and two infants; 27 from Australia; 12 from Indonesia, including one infant; 9 from the United Kingdom; 4 each from Germany and Belgium; 3 from the Philippines; and a citizen of Canada. The nationalities of 41 other victims have not yet been verified.
The International AIDS Society based in Geneva announced on its website that "a number of friends and colleagues" were on board the jet, en route to a conference in Australia.
Malaysia Airlines also announced it would alter the flight paths of all European flights to avoid the region near where Flight 17 crashed. The Boeing 777-200 was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members,” the airline said.
IN-DEPTH
- Malaysia Airlines Passenger Jet Shot Down Over Ukraine, U.S. Officials Say
- Putin Says Ukraine ‘Bears Responsibility’ for Jet Crash
- Malaysian PM Vows Justice If Plane Was Shot Down
