Pilot Accused of Shooting Down MH17 Reportedly Commits Suicide

Nearly four years ago on 17th July 2014, an unthinkable tragedy happened when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by a missile in eastern Ukraine, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board.

According to BBC News, pro-Russian rebels began their insurgency in April of that same year, and a number of Ukranian jets were shot down in that area. Despite this, many commercial airlines still flew over this conflict zone, including MH17. The airline had flown at a high-altitude flight path that was believed to be safe, but was still shot down.

Source: sputnik news

Since the tragedy, investigations led by the Dutch concluded that the commercial flight was shot down by a missile that was fired from a territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

According to the Telegraph, Russian officials however, claimed that 29-year-old Vladyslav Voloshyn, a Ukranian jet pilot, was the one who shot down MH17. The pilot denied this accusation. 

Now, the pilot has reportedly committed suicide earlier on Monday (19th March) according to local media.

Voloshyn was believed to have ended his life at his home, where his wife heard a loud gunshot. She then immediately called an ambulance, but paramedics could not save him.

Source: bbc news

Local police are reportedly treating the pilot’s death as suicide, but are also investigating the incident under the premeditated murder article of the nation’s penal code.

Let’s hope the authorities investigate this man’s sudden death appropriately.

Also read: Four Years After MH370 Tragedy, 7yo Son Still Thinks Father is Away at Work