Murky MH17 mystery

RECENT discussion regarding the findings of investigations into the crash of Malaysia Airways Flight MH17 in Eastern Ukraine ( 17- 7- 14), seems to have ignored some vital information.

The Dutch Safety Board found in October 2015 that the plane was shot down by a Russian- made Buk missile, but Malaysian authorities are coming short of blaming Russia outright for the attack.

Why are they not repeating what was reported on ABC News soon after the tragedy, when a Malaysian official declared that the pilot had been asked by the Ukraine air traffic controllers to fly at a lower level than the height of 33,000ft for all other airlines flying over the Ukraine? This latter height would have been beyond the range of the Buk missile.

As we watched the video of the local people running towards the wreckage, we heard them express surprise. The translation told us that they were surprised it was a passenger plane. They expected it to be a Ukrainian war plane come to bomb them. It was flying at a lower level and that is why it was shot down.

Has the Ukrainian Government got something to answer for here? The thought has occurred to some of us that MH17 might have been sacrificed to bring down the condemnation of the world upon the rebels and their Russian allies, and to gain more sympathy for the Ukrainian Government from the West.

Perhaps the Malaysian Government has something to answer for, too. The families need to keep asking questions. CECILY MACALPINE,

Magnetic Island.