CRI听力:External Force Downed MH17: Report

The Dutch Prime Minister says the Dutch investigation team is ready to return to the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 after a preliminary report says that some kind of external force like knocked MH17 out of the air.

Mark Rutte says the head of the team will travel to Ukraine later today.

"There is still a long way to go. We owe it to the next of kin to do our utmost to recover human remains and personal belongings, to give clarity about what happened and to bring to justice those responsible."

Malaysian transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai spoke at a news conference following the release of the preliminary report on the crash by the Dutch Safety Board.

"The damage observed in the forward section of the aircraft appears to indicate that the aircraft was penetrated by a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft. It is likely that the damage resulted in a loss of structural integrity of the aircraft leading to an in-flight breakup."

The report says there are no indications MH17's crash was caused by a technical fault or by the actions of the crew.

But it stopped short of saying the Boeing 777 was shot down by a missile.

Authorities say that more investigation will be needed to find out who is responsible for the destruction of the plane and the mass loss of life.

The Dutch Safety board is leading the international investigation and its full report is expected within a year.

MH17 suddenly plunged out the sky in July over territory held by Ukraine rebels, killing all 298 people on board, including 193 Dutch nationals.

Ukraine's government and rebels have blamed each other for shooting down the plane.