Kuala Lumpur -- More than a month after the airliner 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 escorted King Abdul Halim
Mu'adzam Shah and Queen Haminah Hamidun to their seats among the
gathering of around 1,000 people.
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 somber, 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 motorcade carrying
the 20 passengers moved slowly past the families and on towards two
Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and three military helicopters. Seven
were flown back to their respective hometowns, while the remaining
passengers will be transported by land for proper burials.
Outside the airport,
crowds gathered nearby to catch a glimpse of the ceremony, as many other
Malaysians across the country watched a live broadcast. On the roads
leading in and out of the airport, cars stopped to allow the convoy of
hearses to pass by.
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