MH17: Malaysia Airlines flight hit by 'numerous high-energy objects,' Dutch report finds

The initial findings by investigators into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine appear consistent with it being hit by a missile.

The Dutch Safety Board said the wreckage of the Boeing 777 was “consistent with the damage that would be expected from a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside”.

It said there was “no evidence of technical or human error” but the investigators did not apportion blame for the disaster.

The flight, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was downed on July 17, killing all 298 passengers and crew — including 10 Britons.

The US and other Western governments have pointed the finger at pro-Russian rebels using a BUK weapons system in the Donetsk region.

Some claims have suggested Russian troops could have been involved. Moscow has angrily protested there is no evidence for either accusation.

The report dismissed fears that Russia or separatist rebels could have manipulated the aircraft’s black boxes. Neither the cockpit voice recorder nor flight data recorder gave any indications of malfunctions, warnings or emergencies before the crash and both ended recording at three seconds past 1.20pm local time. The jet was at 33,000ft and flying on a constant heading and speed.