Looters Ransack MH17 Debris Because Humanity is the Worst
LatestIt’s been two days since Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was tragically shot down by a surface-to-air “Buk” missile near the border of Ukraine and Russia, killing all 298 aboard, sparking outrage and adding fuel to a seemingly never-ending blame game. It’s widely assumed that Russian separatists were responsible, but both Kiev and the Kremlin claim the other is responsible. Meanwhile, the site of the crash spanning 10 miles is an utter shitshow, from armed rebels prohibiting investigators from approaching the scene to people straight up stealing the belongings like cash, credit cards, and other valuable items from the victims.
While investigators began to parse through evidence and debris strewn about from the crash, it looked like personal belongings had already been rummaged through. Via USA Today:
In some areas of this field, near the small town of Grabovo in a remote eastern Ukrainian farming region close to the Russian border, backpacks and other carry-on luggage were grouped together. It was clear that looters had opened and rifled through some of them.
Oh dear. Just. Okay. I simply don’t have the faculty to assess what would motivate a person to steal shit from plane crash victims, so I am going to leave it at that. On top of the looting, it appears the investigation has been one giant shitshow. “Vital evidence” on the scene has not been preserved. The black boxes have reportedly been shipped to Moscow for investigation. Members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were allowed limited access by armed rebels, one of whom was allegedly visibly intoxicated and fired his rifle into the air when an OSCE member strayed from the “prescribed area.”
In response, Malaysian Airlines is apparently stepping up their involvement, despite the fact that it is virtually impossible at this point to maintain an objective investigation. Via Time:
Ismail Nasaruddin, president at Malaysia Airlines staff union NUFAM, said the MH17 attack amounts to “murder,” and transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said the world has a “moral obligation” to ensure the safe recovery of remains as well as punishing those culpable.
Image via Getty.