MH17: First pictures emerge of Malaysia Airlines crash site as rebel commander claims responsibility

The site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near Grabovo, Donetsk (Picture: Reuters)

The first pictures have emerged of the crash site of a Malaysian Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was reportedly shot down over Ukraine, as pro-Russian separatists claimed responsibility for the attack.

Images from the scene show local Emergencies Ministry members working to put out fires emanating from the debris after the plane, which was carrying 280 passengers – including nine British citizens according to ITV – and 15 crew, fell out of the sky approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 which departed Schipol Airport in Amsterdam at 12.15pm local time bound for Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The plane carry 295 passengers and crew (Picture: Reuters)

Ukrainian air traffic control said they lost contact with the flight at about 2.15pm.

Igor Strelkov, the military commander of pro-Russian rebels…