Dutch Safety Board Heads Investigation Into Crash MH17

PR57432

THE HAGUE, the Netherlands, July 24, /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

- Investigation effort in full swing, black boxes currently being read out

The Dutch Safety Board took over formal responsibility for the air crash

investigation from Ukraine yesterday evening. The two black boxes have since

arrived in the United Kingdom, where they are currently being read out and

analysed by a team of international specialists. The on-site investigation in

Ukraine is currently in full swing. Although investigators still do not have

safe access to the crash site, work to gather and analyse data from various

sources is underway in both Kiev and the Netherlands.  

The first priorities will be to gather information from the crash site, analyse

the black boxes and coordinate the international team. Ultimately, the air

crash investigation should offer victims families and the international

community a clear and comprehensive overview of the causes and course of the

crash.

With the Dutch Safety Board now heading the investigation, the international

investigation team will have more freedom to go about its tasks unhindered. The

Dutch Safety Board is also responsible for coordinating all participating

investigators and investigation teams from the countries involved (Ukraine,

Malaysia, Australia, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia)

and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The international

team currently consists of 24 investigators. A total of four Dutch Safety Board

investigators are currently operating in Ukraine.

Black boxes

On Tuesday evening the two recorders arrived in Kiev from Kharkiv and were

handed over to the Dutch Safety Board. They were then shipped by air to the

United Kingdom, where an international team of specialists is working on the

read-out and analysis of the data stored in the recorders. As a part of this

effort, the team will also assess whether the black boxes may have been

manipulated. The black boxes are expected to provide information relevant to

this investigation. The analysis of black box data may take several weeks

On-site investigation  

At the time of writing, the investigators have not yet been able to visit the

site of the crash and conduct their investigation under safe conditions. In

order to conduct an effective investigation, the investigators must have the

opportunity to move around the entire investigation site freely, investigate

materials and traces from up close and secure them for further study where

necessary. At present, the investigators' safety has not been guaranteed. The

Dutch Safety Board and other parties involved are continually working to gain

access to the accident site, and are working with other parties to organise

effective security so that the investigators can do their work under controlled

and safe conditions. Despite the fact that evidence and traces have been

damaged or lost, the Dutch Safety Board expects it will be able to gather

sufficient relevant information from the crash site.

Over the past few days, investigators have been working on the investigation in

the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and in the Netherlands on the basis of available

film and photo materials and other sources of information.

Investigation results  

All information gathered as a part of this international investigation will be

submitted to the Dutch Safety Board. The Dutch Safety Board will subsequently

analyse this information, which will serve as the basis for a report and -

where necessary - relevant recommendations. Other investigators or

investigation boards will support this process and comment on the draft

investigation report and its conclusions. The Dutch Safety Board will have the

final say as regards the contents and timing of all publications. If the

investigation shows evidence of any criminal or terrorist activities, the

information will subsequently be submitted to the relevant authorities in

accordance with applicable regulations. The Dutch Safety Board's investigation

will focus on ascertaining facts, rather than apportioning blame.

In addition to the international accident investigation, the Dutch Safety Board

is also conducting two other independent investigations: an investigation into

the decision-making process with regard to flight routes and an investigation

into the availability of passenger lists. These investigation reports are

expected to be published ahead of the main accident report.

Source: Dutch Safety Board