MH17 wreckage

The Dutch Safety Board has confirmed that wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 is to be transported to the Netherlands and reassembled at Gilze Rijen Air Base for investigation.

The MH17’s debris recovery at the crash-site in eastern Ukraine began in mid-November after a long delay with assistance from the Donetsk People’s Republic militia over security concerns.

Human remains and aircraft debris was laid there since the Boeing 777 crashed on 17 July, killing all 298 people on-board.

Transportation of the wreckage is being managed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

"After loading, the trucks will depart for the Netherlands in separate convoys over the course of the week."

The Dutch Safety Board said: "After loading, the trucks will depart for the Netherlands in separate convoys over the course of the week.

"The first of these convoys will arrive at the Gilze Rijen Air Base next week. The exact date will be announced later."

On its way to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, the MH17 was carrying at least 190 Dutch nationals when it crashed.

Last month, Russian media have telecast satellite images, which reportedly showed a Ukrainian fighter jet firing a missile at the aircraft.

In September, a preliminary report by the Dutch Safety Board nrstated the aircraft broke-up in mid-air after being hit by a large number of high-energy objects, without mentioning any missile attack.

Image: The MH17’s debris recovery at the crash site in eastern Ukraine began in mid-November. Photo: courtesy of the Dutch Safety Board / Department of Defense.

Defence Technology