Netherlands ambassador to Kazakhstan was flying over Ukraine when MH17 was downed

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan Hans Driesser was on board another plane flying over Ukraine when the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed over a rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine.

In his interview to Tengrinews the Ambassador told how shocked he was to learn that he was in the air whilst the tragedy of the MH17 flight was unfolding.

Driesser said that he was flying from Amsterdam to Astana on Thursday and there was but a slight difference in time between his flight and the ill-fated Boeing. He also flew from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol but had a transfer in London. He learned about the tragedy only upon landing in Astana. The Ambassador said that this was the moment of realization that such things could happen to anyone. He called this moment of awareness especially shocking.