A passenger jet belonging to Malaysia Airlines reportedly crashed in eastern Ukraine in an area where separatist rebels have been engaging Ukrainian Army forces in recent weeks.
The plane, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, apparently had 295 people on board and crashed near the town of Snezhnoe, according to a report from Interfax which could not immediately be confirmed.
A source in the Russian aviation industry told Reuters that the plane did not enter Russian airspace when expected and had indeed crashed in eastern Ukraine. Quoting an aviation source, Reuters also reported that burning wreckage was found.
In recent days the Ukrainian air force has lost planes in the area after they have been shot down by rebels. Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine accused Russia of downing one of its fighter jets inside Ukrainian territory.