Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was flying over war-torn Ukraine when it disappeared from radar carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew members.
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 - Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur
Map showing the flight path of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 which crashed in Eastern Ukraine Photo: REUTERS
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Crew: 15
Passengers: 280
Left Amsterdam: 10:15 GMT
Lost contact: 14:15 GMT at 10,000 metres, 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
It was due to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 22:10 GMT.
It had been due to enter Russian airspace when contact was lost.
Both the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels who have been fighting in the region have denied shooting it down.
The Foreign Minister Murry McCully confirmed one New Zealand citizen who lives in Australia and one long-time New Zealand resident who is from Britain, were on board.
173 Dutch nationals were on the aircraft, along with 28 Australians, 23 Malaysians, and 11 Indonesians, 6 Britons, 4 Germans, 4 Belgians, 3 from the Philippines and 1 Canadian. All 15 crew were Malaysian.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, before taking off. Photo: REUTERS