ICAO Council: Russia Responsible for Downing MH17 Passenger Plane in 2014

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has ruled that the Russian Federation is responsible for the downing of flight MH17 and that it violated the Chicago Convention through the unlawful use of weapons against a civilian aircraft.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Dutch government portal.

The ruling, issued on Monday in Montreal, follows a legal case filed by the Netherlands and Australia in 2022. According to the Dutch government, ICAO’s decision confirms that Russia unlawfully used military force against a civilian aircraft, thus breaching the core principles of international aviation safety.

“This decision is a crucial step toward truth, justice, and accountability for the victims of flight MH17 and their families,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp. “Although it cannot ease their pain, it sends a clear message: violations of international law carry consequences.”

The ICAO Council, a specialized UN agency of 193 member states, overwhelmingly supported the Netherlands’ and Australia’s position. Under the Chicago Convention, member states are prohibited from using weapons against civil aircraft in flight. The Council is empowered to determine whether a state has breached these obligations.

In the coming weeks, ICAO is expected to deliberate on legal remedies and ways to advance negotiations. The Netherlands and Australia have urged ICAO to compel Russia to enter good-faith talks within defined timeframes to ensure meaningful outcomes.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof welcomed the ruling as a “significant development that moves us closer to justice.” He emphasized the need to hold Russia accountable by all available means.

Flight MH17, a Boeing 777 operated by Malaysia Airlines, was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down over Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people onboard, including 80 children, perished.

An international investigation led by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded that the aircraft was hit by a missile launched from a Buk surface-to-air system belonging to Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, based in Kursk.

The ICAO Council's decision marks a milestone in the global quest for justice and reinforces the principle that international aviation must not be weaponized.

As The Gaze reported earlier, at a pivotal Europe Day summit in Lviv, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine, announcing nearly £25 million in new humanitarian aid and backing the establishment of a Special Tribunal to prosecute Russian aggression.