The Dutch prime minister yesterday ordered that flags fly at half mast at government buildings across the country, after the death of at least 154 of his countrymen in what he said might be the worst air disaster in the nation’s history.
The Dutch were among 295 passengers and crew, including three infants, aboard a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that crashed while crossing above the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian rebels are fighting forces controlled by the government in the capital Kiev.
Speaking at Schiphol Airport after interrupting his holiday in southern Germany on news of the crash, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was a “black day” for the Netherlands.
“The whole of the Netherlands is in mourning,” he said. “This beautiful summer day has ended in the blackest possible way.”
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was operating as a code-share flight with the Dutch flagship carrier KLM, was also carrying at least 27 Australians, 23 Malaysians, 11 Indonesians, six Britons, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos and one Canadian.
