According to reports in Australia, however, one of the German victims was a 24-year-old woman who was flying to visit her parents in Australia
Germany’s Express newspaper, meanwhile, cited security sources saying two of the German victims were women from North Rhine-Westphalia. One lived in Malaysia and was flying back to her new home.
German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble appealed to Russia to help de-escalate the crisis between the Kiev government and pro-Russian separatists.
“It s crucial that Russia now shows responsibility,” he on Friday on German radio, calling on the Putin government to “finally” contribute to the de-escalation of the war.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was shocked and called for a thorough and independent investigation. Her spokesman said it would be a "tragic escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine," if it was confirmed the plane had been shot down.
The A-310 plane was meant to fly over eastern Ukraine to Hindu Kush in Afghanistan on Friday. They are now searching for a more southern route.
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