FLIGHT MH17: Dutch Team Says Crash Site Not Safe to Start Work

Team of Three Would Work Alongside Ukrainian, U.S. and Other Investigators

By 

ROBERT WALL

A part of the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at its crash site, near the village of Hrabove in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Sunday. REUTERS

By 

By ROBERT WALL 

Dutch air accident investigators who may take over the probe into the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 still deem the area in eastern Ukraine where the plane came down too unsafe to begin their work.

The team of three that would work alongside Ukrainian, U.S. and other international accident investigators hasn't yet arrived at the crash site over security concerns, a spokeswoman for the Dutch Safety Board said Tuesday.

The Netherlands, which had the most citizens on the Boeing 777 that was bought down July 17 carrying 298 people, is poised to have a central role in the probe of Flight 17. Dutch forensic experts also will be involved in identifying the remains that are due to arrive in Kharkiv, Ukraine onTuesday before the bodies are transported to the Netherlands for full identification. The Dutch effort will be aided by other countries that lost nationals on the flight, including the U.K., Germany, and Malaysia.

The Dutch are in talks with international partners about leading the crash probe, though a decision hasn't been taken. Ukraine, under international rules, has the right to lead the investigation but can pass responsibility to another organization. The International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations' aviation arm, is also involved in the discussions.

Alexander Borodai, the Moscow public-relations executive who has become the leader of Donetsk's self-proclaimed pro-Russia rebel state on Monday handed over the plane's so-called black boxes to Malaysian officials. The devices that store cockpit conversations and key technical information on the plane could help rule out any technical fault, though it is unlikely to shed light on who fired on the plane.

Mr. Borodai also declared a unilateral cease-fire at the crash zone and said he would allow Dutch security officials or other armed foreign guards—just not Ukrainian authorities—to accompany international crash investigators.

The Netherlands may bolster staffing of its air accident team if it leads the probe, the Dutch agency's spokeswoman said.

Source: http://online.wsj.com