US intelligence says MH17 was brought down by missile

United States intelligence said the Malaysian Airlines plane — MH17 — was brought down by an anti-aircraft missile, according to US media reports.

United States intelligence said the Malaysian Airlines plane — MH17 — was brought down by an anti-aircraft missile, according to US media reports.

But, they couldn’t say who fired it.

Ukraine was the first to say the plane had been shot down.

President Barack Obama, who discussed the crash in a phone call with President Vladimir Putin, said at an event in Wilmington, Delware, “It looks like it may be a terrible tragedy.

“The United States will offer any assistance we can to help determine what happened, and why."

The White House said Obama was briefed on the crash. And, his press secretary Josh Earnest said, “The President has directed his team to be in close touch with senior Ukrainian officials on this matter. But I'm not in a position at this point to confirm any of the details that are included in those reports. The President has asked to be updated over the course of the day.”

Media reports said American airlines had been prohibited since April from flying close to that region by the US Federal Aviation Agency.