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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