The tragic victims of Flight MH17: First pictures of passengers who perished on plane blown out of the sky above Ukraine - including a British UN worker, a brilliant AIDS doctor and EIGHTY children

Glenn Thomas, 49, top left, was among the 298 killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile yesterday. Mr Thomas was a World Health Organisation media relations officer from Blackpool. He is one of nine Britons believed to have died in the disaster, which also killed 27 Australians, including three children - Mo, Otis and Evie Maslim (top right), aged 12, eight and 10 respectively. Joep Lange, a leading HIV researcher (bottom left), student Elaine Teoh (bottom centre) and Catholic nun from Sydney, Sister Philomene Tiernan (bottom right) were also among the victims.

 The flight, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, exploded into flames at 33,000ft as it was hit by a sophisticated surface-to-air missile over territory near Donetsk held by pro-Russian rebels. Dutch authorities have said that at least nine Britons, 154 Dutch, 27 Australians were among the dead. The nationalities of 41 people on board have not been confirmed. As shocking pictures of bodies and debris (left) emerged, the tragedy sparked a full-blown international crisis last night, increasing tension between Moscow and Washington.

A British press officer who worked for the UN, a pioneering AIDS doctor, a Catholic nun from Australia - and 80 children were among the 298 victims killed when a passenger jet was shot out of the sky at 32,000ft by a surface-to-air missile yesterday.

This morning the identities of the passengers - all of whom are thought to have died - have begun to emerge. The victims include nine Britons, 173 Dutch and 27 Australians.

The Boeing 777 aircraft was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was hit by a sophisticated surface-to-air missile over territory near Donetsk held by pro-Russian rebels who the Ukrainian government.

says are backed by the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Ukraine for the attack.

The plane was shot down in an 'act of terrorism', killing all 298 passengers and crew on board, including three Australian children, aged between eight and 12, who were travelling with their grandfather.

Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that 173 Dutch, 44 Malaysian (including 15 crew and two infants), 12 Indonesian, nine British, four German, three Filipino, and one Canadian citizen were also on the plane.

According to local media reports, Mr Thomas grew up in Blackpool and worked as a journalist in the Lancashire seaside resort in the early 1990s.

NATIONALITIES OF THE MH17 VICTIMS

Netherlands: 173Malaysia: 44
Australia: 27Indonesia: 12
UK: 9Germany: 4
Belgium: 4Philippines: 3
Canada: 1New Zealand: 1
Unverified: 20

The Blackpool Gazette reported that he moved to Geneva, Switzerland, a decade ago to start working for the WHO. He was said to have posted a status update shortly before starting his journey, which was supposed to end in Melbourne.

He caught a place from Geneva to Amsterdam, and boarded the doomed service from the Dutch capital to Kuala Lumpur, where he would have boarded a connecting flight.

He is not thought to have a wife or children, but is believed to have a twin sister, named as Tracey, who still lives in Blackpool.

Today fears emerged that two Newcastle United fans were among the Britons killed. A fan site for the football club posted that two people were aboard MH17 on their way to New Zealand, where the team is playing in a pre-season tour.

One of the men is thought to be fan John Alder, who was in his 60s. The loyal supporter is known to other fans as The Undertaker because of his tradition of wearing a suit to every game.

He is thought only to have missed a single match since he started attending in 1973, and follows the team around the world for their away games.

It is believed John was travelling to the game with another 28-year-old fan, believed to be Liam Sweeney, from Newcastle.

Before the flight John had made his way from Amsterdam before boarding the flight destined for Kuala Lumpur.

Tributes have started to pour in for the former BT worker, who was also known for his mullet-style haircut.

The airline has now said that all European flights operated by Malaysia Airlines will now be taking alternative routes, avoiding the usual route over Ukraine.

A real estate agent, from Victoria, Australia, his wife, a Perth management consultant, a Melbourne university student and a Sydney Catholic nun are among the Australian dead on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down on the Russian-Ukraine border.

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                                              Victims: Melbourne student Elaine Teoh

                                                             Perth man Nick Norris

                                                         Real estate agent Albert Rizk

                                                          Mr Rizk's wife Marie

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It has also been confirmed that NSW resident Sister Philomene Tiernan (centre), a teacher at eastern Sydney's Catholic girls' school in Kincoppal-Rose Bay, was also on the plane

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Recently retired pathologist Roger Guard (left) and his wife Jill (right) from Toowoomba in Queensland, have also been identified from the MH17 flight

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Mourners have laid flowers at the doorstep of the embassy to pay respect to victims.

Passengers board their Malaysia Airlines flight at Bangkok airport as it prepares to depart for Kuala Lumpur e

A Catholic nun from Sydney was also on board the flight. Sister Philomena, a teacher at girls' high school Kincoppal-Rose Bay, was the relative of school students at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in North Sydney.

It has been confirmed that Malaysian student Elaine Teoh, who had been studying at Melbourne University, was also on the flight, Channel Nine reported.

Recently retired pathologist Roger Guard and his wife Jill from Toowoomba in Queensland, have also been identified from the MH17 flight.

Tawoomba's Mayor Paul Antonio said the entire Darling Down’s community would be shaken by the tragic news, reported the Brisbane Times.
Dr Guard was well regarded in the medical community, acting as the director within the Pathology Queensland laboratory in Toowoomba Hospital. He also helped perform autopsies on the victims of the Queensland flood and was well known for organising local marathon events in his local community for the Toowoomba Road Runner fitness group.

A Victorian couple Frankie Davison and her husband Liam were on MH17. Mrs Davison was a teacher at Toorak College Community, south-east of Melbourne.
'Toorak College Community is saddened by the loss of much loved teacher Frankie Davison and her husband Liam who were on the Malaysia Airlines flight that was brought down over Ukraine, this morning,' said a statement on the college Facebook page.

DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AIR DEFENCE FOR TROOPS FACING ATTACK: WHAT IS A BUK MISSILE LAUNCHER?

The BUK missile system is a set of medium range surface-to-air missile systems which were first developed in the Soviet Union and continue to be produced by Russia.
Designed to take out cruise missiles, aircrafts, helicopters and short range ballistic missiles, they can reach altitudes of up to 15.5miles, according to the manufacturer's website.

Powerful: The BUK surface-to-air missile system (like this one) that is believed to have shot down flight MH17 is an old Soviet-built weapon designed to engage light aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.

Developed by Moscow firm Almaz-Antey, they are thought to have been used during the Russian war with Georgia in the territory of South Ossetia in 2008.
The manufacturer's website, which also lists military equipment including radar and naval missile systems, displays two models of Buk launchers - the Buk-M1-2 and the Buk-M2E.
A description of the Buk-M1-2, which has an altitude target range of up to 25km (15.5 miles or 82,000ft), reads: 'The "Buk-M1-2" ADMC is designed to provide air defence for troops and facilities against attacks from current and future high-speed manoeuvring tactical and strategic aircraft, attack helicopters including hovering helicopters, and tactical ballistic, cruise, and air-to-air missiles, in conditions of heavy radio jamming and counter fire; as well as to destroy water and ground surface targets.'

Meanwhile, the Buk-M2E 'is designed to destroy tactical and strategic aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and other aerodynamic aircraft at any point in their range of operation, along with tactical ballistic and aircraft missiles, and smart air bombs in conditions of heavy enemy counter fire and radio jamming; as well as to attack water and ground surface contrast targets.'