Malaysian plane shot down in Ukraine: What happened?

Tom Cohen, CNN
Updated 12:02 PM EDT, Sat July 19, 2014
Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 sits in a field at the crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine, on September 9, 2014. The Boeing 777 was shot down July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board were killed. In an October 2015 report, Dutch investigators found the flight was shot down by a warhead that fit a Buk rocket, referring to Russian technology, Dutch Safety Board Chairman Tjibbe Joustra said.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Alexander KHUDOTEPLY/AFP/Getty Images
Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 sits in a field at the crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine, on September 9, 2014. The Boeing 777 was shot down July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board were killed. In an October 2015 report, Dutch investigators found the flight was shot down by a warhead that fit a Buk rocket, referring to Russian technology, Dutch Safety Board Chairman Tjibbe Joustra said.
Australian and Dutch experts examine the area of the crash on August 3, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Australian and Dutch experts examine the area of the crash on August 3, 2014.
A woman walks with her bicycle near the crash site on August 2, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty images
A woman walks with her bicycle near the crash site on August 2, 2014.
Police secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of passengers from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv, Ukraine, factory on July 22, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Olga Ivashchenko/AP
Police secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of passengers from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv, Ukraine, factory on July 22, 2014.
A pro-Russian rebel passes wreckage from the crashed jet near Hrabove on Monday, July 21, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A pro-Russian rebel passes wreckage from the crashed jet near Hrabove on Monday, July 21, 2014.
Wreckage from the jet lies in grass near Hrabove on July 21, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Wreckage from the jet lies in grass near Hrabove on July 21, 2014.
A man covers his face with a rag as members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team inspect bodies in a refrigerated train near the crash site in eastern Ukraine on July 21, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
A man covers his face with a rag as members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team inspect bodies in a refrigerated train near the crash site in eastern Ukraine on July 21, 2014.
Emergency workers carry a victim
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site on July 21, 2014.
A piece of the plane lies in the grass in eastern Ukraine
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A piece of the plane lies in the grass in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on July 21, 2014.
An armed pro-Russian rebel stands guard next to a refrigerated train loaded with bodies in Torez, Ukraine, on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
An armed pro-Russian rebel stands guard next to a refrigerated train loaded with bodies in Torez, Ukraine, on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Ukrainian State Emergency Service employees sort through debris on July 20, 2014, as they work to locate the deceased.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian State Emergency Service employees sort through debris on July 20, 2014, as they work to locate the deceased.
A woman covers her mouth with a piece of fabric July 20, 2014, to ward off smells from railway cars that reportedly contained passengers
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
A woman covers her mouth with a piece of fabric July 20, 2014, to ward off smells from railway cars that reportedly contained passengers' bodies.
Toys and flowers sit on the charred fuselage of the jet as a memorial on July 20, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
Toys and flowers sit on the charred fuselage of the jet as a memorial on July 20, 2014.
People search a wheat field for remains in the area of the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
People search a wheat field for remains in the area of the crash site on July 20, 2014.
A woman walks among charred debris at the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
A woman walks among charred debris at the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Emergency workers load the body of a victim onto a truck at the crash site on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda/AP
Emergency workers load the body of a victim onto a truck at the crash site on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: /Vadim Ghirda/AP
Emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
A large piece of the main cabin is under guard at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA
A large piece of the main cabin is under guard at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Victims
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Vadim Ghirda
Victims' bodies are placed by the side of the road on July 19, 2014, as recovery efforts continue at the crash site. International officials lament the lack of a secured perimeter.
A man looks through the debris at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
A man looks through the debris at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
An envelope bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo is seen at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
An envelope bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo is seen at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Armed rebels walk past large pieces of the Boeing 777 on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA
Armed rebels walk past large pieces of the Boeing 777 on July 19, 2014.
Ukrainian rescue workers walk through a wheat field with a stretcher as they collect the bodies of victims on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dominque Faget/Getty Images
Ukrainian rescue workers walk through a wheat field with a stretcher as they collect the bodies of victims on July 19, 2014.
A woman looks at wreckage on July 19, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Alexander Khudoteply/Getty Images
A woman looks at wreckage on July 19, 2014.
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe delegation arrives at the crash site on Friday, July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe delegation arrives at the crash site on Friday, July 18, 2014.
A woman walks through the debris field on July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A woman walks through the debris field on July 18, 2014.
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard at the crash site.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/ap
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard at the crash site.
Wreckage from Flight 17 lies in a field in Shaktarsk, Ukraine, on July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Wreckage from Flight 17 lies in a field in Shaktarsk, Ukraine, on July 18, 2014.
A man covers a body with a plastic sheet near the crash site on July 18, 2014. The passengers and crew hailed from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Canada.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A man covers a body with a plastic sheet near the crash site on July 18, 2014. The passengers and crew hailed from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Canada.
A diver searches for the jet
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A diver searches for the jet's flight data recorders on July 18, 2014.
Coal miners search the crash site.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Coal miners search the crash site.
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the ground July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the ground July 18, 2014.
People search for bodies of passengers on July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
People search for bodies of passengers on July 18, 2014.
A woman walks past a body covered with a plastic sheet near the crash site July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A woman walks past a body covered with a plastic sheet near the crash site July 18, 2014.
Belongings of passengers lie in the grass on July 18, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Belongings of passengers lie in the grass on July 18, 2014.
People inspect the crash site on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
People inspect the crash site on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
People walk amid the debris at the site of the crash.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
People walk amid the debris at the site of the crash.
Debris smoulders in a field near the Russian border.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Debris smoulders in a field near the Russian border.
Fire engines arrive at the crash site.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Fire engines arrive at the crash site.
A man stands next to wreckage.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man stands next to wreckage.
Debris from the crashed jet lies in a field in Ukraine.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Debris from the crashed jet lies in a field in Ukraine.
Family members of those aboard Flight 17 leave Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Robin Utrecht Photography/Getty Images
Family members of those aboard Flight 17 leave Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, Netherlands.
A large piece of the plane lies on the ground.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A large piece of the plane lies on the ground.
Luggage from the flight sits in a field at the crash site.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Luggage from the flight sits in a field at the crash site.
A couple walks to the location at Schiphol Airport where more information would be given regarding the flight.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: JEROEN JUMELET/AFP/Getty Images
A couple walks to the location at Schiphol Airport where more information would be given regarding the flight.
Flight arrivals are listed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images
Flight arrivals are listed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia.
Debris from the Boeing 777, pictured on July 17, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Debris from the Boeing 777, pictured on July 17, 2014.
A man inspects debris from the plane.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man inspects debris from the plane.
Wreckage from the plane is seen on July 17, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Wreckage from the plane is seen on July 17, 2014.
A man talks with security at Schiphol Airport on July 17, 2014.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: Robin Utrecht Photography/Getty Images
A man talks with security at Schiphol Airport on July 17, 2014.
Wreckage burns in Ukraine.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Wreckage burns in Ukraine.
A man stands next to the wreckage of the airliner.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
A man stands next to the wreckage of the airliner.
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
A piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
A piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
An airsickness bag believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
An airsickness bag believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
PHOTO: from twitter.com/MatevzNovak
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.

Story highlights

NEW: Donetsk rebel official: Plane shot down, but not by us

Malaysian official says the crash site's integrity has been compromised

President Obama says evidence points to a missile strike by pro-Russian rebels

Russia could face increasing international isolation and tougher sanctions

(CNN) —  

It’s an international air disaster in a war zone – a commercial flight with almost 300 people on board shot down in eastern Ukraine.

As new details emerge, here is a look at basic questions about the tragedy:

Was the plane shot down?

All evidence so far says yes.

A birthday card found in a sunflower field near the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine, on Thursday, July 24. The passenger plane was shot down July 17 above Ukraine. All 298 people aboard were killed, and much of what they left behind was scattered in a vast field of debris.
PHOTO: Diego Laje/CNN
A birthday card found in a sunflower field near the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine, on Thursday, July 24. The passenger plane was shot down July 17 above Ukraine. All 298 people aboard were killed, and much of what they left behind was scattered in a vast field of debris.
Related Gallery MH17: What they left behind
Families of crew members aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 gather for a vigil Tuesday, July 22, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All 298 people aboard the passenger plane died when it was shot down Thursday, July 17, in a rebel-controlled part of eastern Ukraine.
PHOTO: Rahman Roslan/Getty Images
Families of crew members aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 gather for a vigil Tuesday, July 22, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All 298 people aboard the passenger plane died when it was shot down Thursday, July 17, in a rebel-controlled part of eastern Ukraine.
Related Gallery World reacts to MH17 crash

President Barack Obama declared Friday that a surface-to-air missile blasted the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 on Thursday over the Donetsk region of Ukraine near the Russian border.

According to a senior American official, a U.S. radar system saw a surface-to-air missile system turn on and track an aircraft right before plane went down.

A second system saw a heat signature, which would indicate a missile rising from the ground into the air at the time the airliner was hit, the official explained.

Does anyone dispute that?

Not at this point.

While the Ukrainian government trades accusations of blame with pro-Russian rebels it is fighting in eastern Ukraine and Russia itself, no one has offered evidence of an alternative theory.

The plane’s debris field indicates a mid-air explosion.

Who did it?

A preliminary classified U.S. intelligence analysis concludes the rebels most likely fired the missile, according to an American defense official with direct access to the latest information.

“Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine,” Obama told reporters. However, he stopped short of blaming any particular group.

Ukrainian officials accused the rebels, who denied it. Russia also denied involvement.

Now Ukrainian officials have released what they say are intercepted communications in which rebels talk about downing the civilian airliner.

CNN had no way of immediately verifying the authenticity of the audio recordings.

The leader of the rebels in Donetsk said Saturday he believed the flight was shot down, but Alexander Borodai reiterated his denial that his forces did it.

What kind of missile was used?