AMSTERDAM--Air accident investigators probing the downing of
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 said Wednesday they will try to return
to the crash site if the security situation in eastern Ukraine were
to improve again.
The investigation team last week gave up efforts to reach the
site amid fighting between pro-Russian separatists and the
Ukrainian military. The team was relocated to The Hague to analyze
what information had already been gathered.
The Dutch Safety Board, which is leading the probe, said in a
statement that it will try to visit the site once the situation in
the area is "safe and stable." This could enable investigators to
verify information and search for certain pieces of debris and
other material, it said.
Investigators have had limited access to the site since the
plane was brought down on July 17 and security concerns have kept
the air accident team from inspecting debris firsthand. The Dutch
Safety Board, however, said the cause of the crash can likely be
determined even without access to the scene. A preliminary report
is due to be published in the coming weeks, it added.
Western and Ukrainian officials believe that pro-Moscow rebels
in control of the remote area in eastern Ukraine were responsible
for shooting down the passenger plane with a missile system
procured from Russia.
Russia denies its allies were involved.
Write to Maarten van Tartwijk at maarten.vantartwijk@wsj.com
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