VIJFHUIZEN, July 18 — A particularly poignant moment during the 10th anniversary of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 tragedy held here was when Melvic Choo, son of MH17 pilot Captain Eugene Choo, read out the names of his father and all the cabin crew members of the ill-fated flight. This heartfelt tribute deeply moved the 1,500 attendees, which included many Malaysians and next of kin of the victims.
The 10th anniversary was marked yesterday with a solemn ceremony at the Dudok Park in Vijfhuizen, near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, where the flight had started its journey 10 years ago. The ceremony honoured the 298 victims, including 43 Malaysians and 193 Dutch citizens, who perished on 17th July 2014.
The ceremony, filled with profound emotions, saw families choking back tears as they took turns to read out the names of their loved ones. Each victim's name was read further intensifying the emotional atmosphere. The event included a two-minute silence observed by all, creating a shared moment of reflection and sorrow.
Melvic, 23, now a pilot with AirAsia, stood alongside the rest of his family members and those of other victims. Their father, Captain Eugene Choo, was known for his gentle nature and dedication to spending quality time with his sons, encouraging them in all their pursuits. Melvic was only 13 and his brother Scott was just 11 when they tragically lost their father.
The Malaysian flag and 16 other flags from the countries of the victims were flown at half-mast, creating a powerful and emotional scene in front of rows of sunflowers, symbolising remembrance and hope.
Security measures were intensified due to the presence of high-profile dignitaries.
On that fateful day, the Boeing 777, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine, a region embroiled in conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists. All passengers and crew on board were killed, including many children and entire families, leading to a profound sense of loss and shock worldwide.
Investigations led by the Dutch Safety Board and the Joint Investigation Team concluded that a Buk missile system, belonging to the Russian military, was used to bring down the aircraft, a claim Russia has consistently denied.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte were among the distinguished attendees at the ceremony. Rutte also expressed deep respect for the victims’ families and emphasising the government's commitment to justice.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof delivered a powerful speech, vowing to bring those responsible for the downing of MH17 to justice. He emphasised the crucial role of international cooperation in this pursuit, stating,
“Ten years on, it is very important for international cooperation to remain, to see justice one day.”
Schoof reflected on the unity and shared grief at the ceremony, saying, “Today, grief was in the air, but everyone felt warm together. It meant a lot for all 298 names of passengers to be called out by their next of kin at the ceremony; that means they will never be forgotten.”
He stressed the importance of global collaboration in seeking justice: “International cooperation is very, very important to keep this fight going. What we are focused on now is accountability and justice, and we will proceed strongly, working with ICAO and the European Court until we achieve that.”
At the time of the incident,, Schoof was the Dutch intelligence chief and also gathered intelligence on the flight's downing.
Family members and next of kin of the victims participated in moments of silence and the reading of the victims’ names. This year’s ceremony served as a reminder of the tragedy and a call for accountability and justice, reinforcing the international community’s commitment to uncovering the truth behind the downing of MH17.
