Russian president Vladimir Putin should speak to families of the 298 people who died on flight MH17, the grieving sister of one of the victims has said after Dutch investigators revealed it was brought down by a Russian-made missile.
The warhead exploded just outside the cockpit of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 as it passed over fighting in eastern Ukraine last July, causing the front of the plane to shear off.
Tracey Withers, whose brother Glenn Thomas was among the 10 Britons who died, told ITV News that if Mr Putin had time to call Elton John, he should make the effort to speak to grieving relatives. The Russian leader had spoken to the star about gay rights.
The report had some comfort for families, after it reported that passengers and crew on the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight would have died swiftly after the explosion.
"It does make you feel better," she told ITV News.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"You don't want any of them to suffer."
Barry Sweeney, whose 28-year-old son Liam was on board, also wanted to know that the end was instant.
"We cannot be 100 per cent, but we have to think that was the case," he told the BBC.
He added: "I'm going to have to go away and think 'Yes, Liam died instantly as (did) 297 other people'. If you think otherwise, it's just going to hurt forever."
