UN aviation agency holds Russia accountable for MH17 downing

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UN aviation agency holds Russia accountable for MH17 downing

Policy

Geoffrey Thomas Editor-In-Chief - US Bureau Chief | Airline Ratings

By Sky Industry News

May 13, 2025

The United Nations' aviation agency has held Russia accountable for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 298 passengers, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australians.

On Monday, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) council supported claims by Australia and the Netherlands, determining that Russia was responsible for shooting down the aircraft over eastern Ukraine with a surface-to-air missile. The council described the allegations as "well founded in fact and in law," noting that Russia had "failed to uphold its obligations under international air law."

The downing of MH17 on July 17, 2014, was deemed a violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which forbids using weapons against civilian aircraft in flight.

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Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp expressed approval of the ruling, describing it as “an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17.” He emphasized that it sends “a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity.”

The ICAO council is expected to deliberate on potential reparations soon.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong also praised the decision, calling for swift action on remedies from ICAO. “We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law,” she stated.

In 2022, a Dutch court found two Russian nationals and one Ukrainian guilty in absentia, sentencing them to life imprisonment for their involvement in the attack.

The MH17 disaster compounded financial challenges for Malaysia Airlines following another tragedy earlier that year involving Flight MH370. These events significantly impacted the airline's financial stability, leading to a decline in share value and eventual delisting from Malaysia’s stock exchange.