July 17, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement marking ten years since the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17:

“Today, Canada honours the memory of those who lost their lives in the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.

“298 passengers and crew members, nationals of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, lost their lives that day, when a missile from a Russian BUK TELAR vehicle was launched against the civilian aircraft that was connecting Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

“Canada reiterates its full support for the Joint Investigation Team led by Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine, which sought to achieve truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17, to get closure for their loved ones, and to prevent tragedies like this one from happening in the future.

“We reiterate our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and we continue to call on all states, including Russia, to cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166.”