http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/21/world/asia/malaysia-mh17-bodies-return/index.html?hpt=ias_c1
Kuala Lumpur
(CNN) -- More than a month after the airliner they
were traveling on was shot out of the skies above eastern Ukraine,
the bodies of 20 Malaysian passengers arrived back in Kuala Lumpur
as Malaysia observed a national day of mourning.
Families of the victims of Malaysia Flight MH17 gathered
at the Malaysian capital's international airport for the
repatriation ceremony, as a special chartered Malaysia Airlines
Boeing 747 touched down just after 9.30 a.m. local time Friday
following its journey from Amsterdam.
After the airliner taxied to its stand at the airport's
Bunga Raya complex, usually reserved for receiving visiting
dignitaries, it was met by uniformed pall bearers from Malaysia's
armed forces, who proceeded to unload the caskets, which were all
draped in the country's flag, into the waiting fleet of white
hearses.
The victims' families were joined by Prime Minister Najib
Razak, who was accompanied by the country's king and queen.
A minute's silence was observed nationwide at 10.55 a.m.
as the last of the caskets was unloaded.
"Last month, 43 Malaysian lives were taken over eastern
Ukraine. Today we mourn the loss of our people. Today, we begin to
bring them home," the prime minister said.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and
friends of those who lost their lives. Today we stand with you,
united as one."
MH17, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam,
was shot down by a missile as it flew over Ukraine on July 17,
killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.
Forty-three of those on board were Malaysians, including
15 crew members and two infants.
Investigators have been carrying out the painstaking task
of recovering bodies from the crash site before transporting them
to the Netherlands for identification -- a process that could take
months, Dutch authorities have warned.
About two-thirds of those killed were Dutch, with
Malaysians and Australians making up a large proportion of the
others.
Day of
mourning
Malaysia Airlines, which experienced its second tragedy
this year following the disappearance of Flight MH370 as it flew to
Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, distributed black ribbons to
cabin crew company-wide, while a flag at its offices flew at
half-mast.
A statement from the airline read: "Malaysia Airlines is
deeply saddened by this devastating tragedy. It has been a long and
painful wait for the families and friends of the passengers and
crew onboard MH17."
While the mood at the airport was expectantly sombre, the
awaiting families were nevertheless prepared for the occasion. Some
broke into tears as they shook hands with government ministers and
airline crew, but most just took their seats at the side of the
tarmac to await the special flight.
The bodies of the 20 passengers will be taken to their
respective home towns for burial after the service.
