Live Updates on MH17: Malaysian PM Says Plane Did Not Make Distress Call

Mashable is following the latest reports on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. See our previous coverage here.

3 things you need to know:

• Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says Flight 17 did not make a distress call.


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• Malaysia Airlines retires MH17 flight number.


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• Malaysia Airlines released a full list of the names and nationalities of Flight 17's passengers and crew members. There were 298 people on board, including 193 Dutch victims.

REPORTERS IN UKRAINE: Christopher Miller (@christopherjm) | EDITOR ON DUTY IN TORONTO: Anita Li (@neeeda)

For updates on the what is happening with the remains of #MH17 victims, follow @maxseddon @PaulSonne @shaunwalker7.

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) July 20, 2014

7:40 a.m. ET: British prime minister demands that Russia stop supporting rebels in Ukraine

British Prime Minister David Cameron demanded Sunday that Russia end its support for the rebels in Ukraine, arguing that Russia's policies destabilized the country, and created the conditions that appear to have led to the downing of Malaysian Airways Flight 17.



In an unusual front-page op-ed in The Sunday Times, Cameron says there is growing evidence that separatist rebels, backed by Russia, shot down the aircraft, killing 298 people.



"If this is the case then we must be clear what it means: This is a direct result of Russia destabilizing a sovereign state, violating its territorial integrity, backing thuggish militias and training and arming them," Cameron wrote.



The British leader said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin stopped supporting the rebels, then the crisis in Ukraine could be brought to an end.



"If President Putin does not change his approach to Ukraine, then Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia," Cameron wrote.



Views in London are hardening on Ukraine amid anger over access at the crash site. Images from the site have shown rebels picking through the wreckage and personal belongings of victims.



Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC that Putin could "snap his fingers" to allow a proper investigation.



"The eyes of the world are on Vladimir Putin and what we are seeing from the Russians is obfuscation and obstruction at the moment," Hammond said.



Cameron also took European leaders to task for vacillating on Ukraine. While some countries have pushed for tough action against Russia, others have tried to contain the crisis.



"In Europe we should not need to be reminded of the consequences of turning a blind eye when big countries bully smaller countries," he wrote. "We should not need reminding of the consequences of letting the doctrine of 'might is right' prevail."

We must turn this moment of outrage into a moment of action. My article on #MH17 for @thesundaytimes: https://t.co/EwCef32GQy

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) July 20, 2014

"This is an outrage made in Moscow" - David Cameron on #MH17 http://t.co/IxoJK89voW Read more...

— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) July 20, 2014

5:36 a.m. ET: Malaysia Airlines retires MH17 flight number

Malaysia Airline says it is retiring the flight number of the plane that was shot down over Ukraine.



The carrier said in a statement Sunday that beginning Friday, it will no longer use MH17 to identify any of its Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flights. It said it is doing so "out of respect for our crew and passengers" who were aboard the plane.



The airline said the new flight number replacing MH17 would be MH19.



It also said there would be no changes to the frequency of its Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur service, and that it would continue to operate daily flights between the cities.

12:15 a.m. ET: Malaysian prime minister says Flight 17 did not make a distress call

The Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went down in war-torn Ukraine did not make any distress call, Malaysia's prime minister said Friday, adding that its flight route had been declared safe by the global civil aviation body.



Najib Razak, who addressed a middle-of-the-night news conference after speaking with leaders of Ukraine and the Netherlands, and to U.S. President Barack Obama, said "no stone will be left unturned" in finding out what happened to Flight 17 and the 298 people on board.



It is the second tragedy to hit Malaysia Airlines this year. Its Flight 370 disappeared March 8 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It has not been found, but the search has been concentrated in the Indian Ocean west of Australia.



"This is a tragic day in what has already been a tragic year for Malaysia," Najib said.



A U.S. official said American intelligence authorities believe a surface-to-air missile took down the plane, but it is not clear who fired it. He said it appears unlikely the Ukrainian government, which has denied responsibility, shot down the plane because it doesn't have the capabilities. Pro-Russia separatists fighting the government have also denied any responsibility.



"At this stage, however, Malaysia is unable to verify the cause of this tragedy but we must, and we will, find out precisely what happened to this flight," Najib said. "If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice," he said.



Najib said the aircraft flight route was declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The International Air Transportation Association had also stated that the air space that the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions, he said. Besides, "Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the aircraft did not make a distress call."



Najib added that the Ukrainian government has promised a full and thorough investigation, which will include Malaysian officials. He said they will also negotiate with rebels to "establish a humanitarian corridor to the crash site."



In his conversation with Obama, Najib said they agreed that "the investigation must not be hindered in any way. An international team must have full access to the crash site. And no one must interfere with the area, or move any debris, including the black box."

12:03 a.m. ET: Global leaders express shock over Flight 17's downing

International leaders and officials expressed grief and shock at the crash Thursday in eastern Ukraine of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet carrying 298 people. Several pledged to contribute to investigation efforts. The plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was carrying 154 Dutch citizens, 43 Malaysians, 27 Australians and passengers of several other nationalities.



Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte:

Possibly one of the worst air disasters in Dutch history... I am shocked. I am broken up. All of us in the Netherlands are in deep mourning.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak:

We must - and we will - find out precisely what happened to this flight. No stone can be left unturned. If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice.

This is a tragic day, in what has already been a tragic year, for Malaysia... The flight's passengers and crew came from many different countries. But today, regardless of nationality, we are all united in grief.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko called it an "act of terrorism" and demanded an international investigation.



Russian President Vladimir Putin:

This tragedy would not have happened if there were peace on this land, if the military actions had not been renewed in southeast Ukraine.

And, certainly, the state over whose territory this occurred bears responsibility for this awful tragedy.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott:

We owe it as well to the families of the dead to find out exactly what has happened and exactly who is responsible. ... As things stand, this looks less like an accident than a crime. And if so, the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry:

We are horrified by the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. There are no words adequate to express our condolences to the families of the nearly 300 victims. We offer our sympathies and support to the Governments of Malaysia and the Netherlands at this difficult time, as well as to all those whose citizens may have been on board. We are reviewing whether any American citizens were aboard the flight.

The United States Government remains prepared to assist with a credible, international investigation any way we can, and we will continue to be in touch with all relevant partners as we seek the facts of what happened today.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:

There is clearly a need for a full and transparent international investigation.

Chris Beyrer, president-elect of the International AIDS Society:



Commenting on reports that world-renowned Dutch HIV researcher Joep Lange was on Flight 17, "then the HIV/AIDS movement has truly lost a giant."



Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim:

This is yet another national tragedy and our moment of deep grief and sorrow.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press



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