Malaysia airline crashes in east Ukraine near Russia border

A Malaysian airline with 295 people on board has crashed in Ukraine on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, amid allegations it was shot down.

Malaysia Airlines said it lost contact with Flight MH17 from Amsterdam over Ukraine. The Ukrainian presidency has officially confirmed the crash.

An aviation source in Moscow told Reuters the plane had been found burning on the ground in east Ukraine.

Separatist rebels have been fighting government forces in the region.