KUALA LUMPUR: The remains of 20 Malaysian victims of the MH17 crash were brought out of the special Malaysia Airlines (MAS) aircraft this morning after their arrival at the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Amsterdam.
Draped in the Jalur Gemilang, the first two coffins to be removed from the plane contained the remains of two MH17 crew members – stewardess Mastura Mustafa and first officer Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi.
Family members could be seen breaking down in tears as more caskets were brought out from the aircraft.
The remains arrived home in 17 caskets and three urns, each of them solemnly carried by eight military pallbearers towards the waiting hearses.
A minute of silence as a mark of respect for the victims was observed before the hearses left the complex for their respective hometowns or funeral homes and eventual final resting place.
The remains were the first batch of the 43 Malaysians killed in the crash to be sent back to Malaysia from Amsterdam.
The MAS plane on flight MH17 with 298 people on board is believed to have been shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17 enroute to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.– BERNAMA