The investigation into the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 has been suspended. Investigators decided to pause proceedings as they did not have enough evidence to prosecute any further suspects.

Flight MH17 was shot down over Donetsk, Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members onboard. The Boeing 777-200ER (9M-MRD) was traveling from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).

The Joint Investigation Team leading the probe had hoped to prove the identities of those responsible for launching the Buk ground-to-air missile, as well as who was in the chain of command, but it acknowledged that that was not possible for now. The Dutch prosecutor, Digna van Boetzelaer, said in a statement earlier today,

“The investigation has now reached its limit, all leads have now been exhausted, the investigation is therefore being suspended.”

Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons

Not enough evidence to proceed

Late last year, three men – two Russians and one Ukrainian – were found guilty in absentia of murder for their involvement in the attack. The Dutch court concluded that the men had mistaken flight MH17 for a Ukrainian military aircraft, and deliberately shot it down. It also ruled that Russia was in control of the separatist forces fighting in the area at that time, but the verdicts were rejected by Russia.

In the latest hearing, the Joint Investigation team cited recorded telephone conversations between senior Russian officials and the pro-Russia separatist movement, although it recognized that the recordings did not explicitly mention the equipment used to shoot down flight MH17. The Joint Investigation Team stated,

"There is concrete information that the separatists' request was presented to the president, and that this request was granted. Although we speak of strong indications, the high bar of complete and conclusive evidence is not reached. Furthermore, the President enjoys immunity in his position as Head of State.”

Photo: Alexander Chizhenok | Shutterstock

The Joint Investigation Team is made up of representatives from the countries worst affected by the atrocity – the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Of the 298 people onboard, 193 were from the Netherlands, 43 were from Malaysia (including the 15 crew members), and 27 were from Australia.

A bitter disappointment

Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, described the outcome as a “bitter disappointment,” but added that this did not mean that the criminal justice process was over. He said,

"Since 2014, we have become all too familiar with the pattern of obstruction, untruths, and injustice from Russia and its president, Putin. We will continue to call the Russian Federation to account for its role in this tragedy.”

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

The downing of flight MH17, which came just four months after the disappearance of flight MH370, exacerbated Malaysia Airlines’ financial woes. The carrier subsequently stripped back its long-haul route network, leaving London Heathrow (LHR) as its only European destination.

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