MH17 hit by Buk missile system: Dutch Safety Board

The reconstructed wreckage of the MH17 airplane is seen after the presentation of the final report into the crash of July 2014 of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, in Gilze Rijen, the Netherlands, October 13, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

In addition, traces of paint on a number of missile fragments found match the paint on parts of a missile recovered from the area by DSB. Other potential causes, such as an explosion inside the aeroplane or an air-to-air missile, have been investigated and excluded. No scenario other than a Buk surface-to-air missile can explain this combination of facts.

The DSB also concluded that "Ukraine had sufficient reason to close the entire airspace over the eastern part of Ukraine as a precaution." On the day of the accident, on military grounds flying at lower altitudes was restricted.

"The current system of responsibilities with respect to flying over conflict areas is inadequate... When flying over a conflict area, an additional risk assessment is necessary," noted the report.

The DSB called on all parties involved in aviation to exchange more information about conflict areas and potential threats to civil aviation.

Prior to the official publication of the final reports, around 600 relatives were informed about the conclusions of the investigation during a closed information meeting at the World Forum in The Hague. According to the relatives, the reports stated that occupants of the Malaysian Airlines flight lost consciousness seconds after the impact of a missile, with the cockpit crew being killed instantly.

The Boeing 777 Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 last year on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board died.

On Sept. 9 last year the DSB already issued its first preliminary report, stating the crash had an external cause, probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside.