Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Site in Ukraine Remains Unsecured

Nothing tells the story of the tragic crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 like pictures from the still-unsecured site, where passengers’ bodies, personal effects, and remnants of the plane lay strewn on the ground.

The most troubling thing about the #MH17 site is what isn’t there: many personal effects and parts of the plane. One can only speculate.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

Journalists at the MH17 site in east Ukraine are tweeting pictures and updates. The site remains unsecured and the pro-Russian forces are not allowing any experts to access the site. 

Rebels denying access to #MH17 crash site until “investigative brigade” finishes work. Won’t say where the bodies are being taken.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

At #MH17 site. Separatists standing guard, limiting access. Ukr emergency services handling bodies, taking to morgue. pic.twitter.com/fatS8M9435

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014

Media outlets reported the black boxes were sent to Ukraine, but the rebels claim they never found them. The journalists said they could not find any black boxes at the scene.

After 2 days picking through #MH17 site pro-Russia gunmen chief says no idea where black box is pic.twitter.com/YITdKVojQW via @pavelsheremet

— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) July 19, 2014

No sign of black boxes. No sign of missile debris. No sign of aviation or military experts. No idea where the bodies are going. #MH17

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

The bodies of the victims are not treated with any respect, and Max Seddon, a Buzzfeed reporter currently at the site, does not think a credible investigation can take place.

I’ve counted at least 58 bodies lying around #MH17, plus dozens mangled together and charred. Nobody will say where they’re going.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

Counted 82 bodies at #MH17 site. Some in body bags by the side of the road. Others decomposing in the heat. Parts being shoveled into sacks.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

At this stage, any talk of a credible #MH17 investigation is ridiculous. It’ll be a small miracle if relatives get the bodies semi-intact.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

Here are more pictures. The bodies in these images are covered.

GRAPHIC IMAGE. Local emergency worker at flight #MH17 crash site says 65 bodies taken from here, but won’t say where. pic.twitter.com/s1EjsCQCuD

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014

At least another 60 bodies bagged and placed at side of the road here. Nobody will say where they are going. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/Vo4mB9Ez0m

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014

Personal effects of #MH17 passengers at crash site. pic.twitter.com/jmBr4Dh4xd

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014

These guys are “experts” from local police. Not seen any hint of actual aviation experts here. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/cwRvV1N9IH

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

A gunman named after one of the Seven Dwarves from Snow White blocking OSCE convoy. #MH17 investigation in a nutshell pic.twitter.com/lwaNjmGomY

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

Many of the bodies are marked and covered like this. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/4eP6oCBwE9

— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014

What remains of the cockpit of MH17 pic.twitter.com/4PLxHVfKA4

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) July 19, 2014

The overhead lockers from MH17 which landed on a village street pic.twitter.com/5rywdgt7IP

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) July 19, 2014

Miles from the main crash sites, pieces of MH17 lie scattered in fields pic.twitter.com/GWdE4jNTZq

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) July 19, 2014

This probably hurts the most. In between the debris in the field. pic.twitter.com/0262v0Xwi8

— Olaf Koens (@obk) July 19, 2014

Much of the debris on the #MH17 crash site has already been moved. Some items found whole, for example, piled here. pic.twitter.com/QLQJerWnTP

— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) July 19, 2014

One part of the #MH17 plane that has landed in the unsecured field beside a local poultry factory. pic.twitter.com/hxfrQhsy0g

— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) July 19, 2014

Remains of the cockpit of #MH17. Dumped in a sunflower field. pic.twitter.com/rPXkqGBd0g

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk) July 19, 2014

Postcards from Amsterdam and Maastricht, letters and magazines from a courier bag, split open in wreckage of #MH17 pic.twitter.com/RvTtT13i0W

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk) July 19, 2014

Fragments of someone’s life destroyed – a vinyl collection among the sunflowers. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/6SpiRhMb5Y

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk) July 19, 2014

Ukraine does have the most beautiful sunflowers.

Next to the crash site, the most beautiful field of sunflowers swaying in the summer wind. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/StMfzCFLzR

— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) July 19, 2014