President Pranab Mukherjee expresses grief over MH17 crash

New Delhi, July 19: President

on Saturday conveyed grief and sympathy over the Malaysia Airlines flight crash in eastern Ukraine.

In a message to the King of Malaysia, the President said: "On behalf of the government, people of India and on my own behalf, I wish to convey my sincere grief and sympathy to the government and people of Malaysia over the Malaysia Airlines flight crash in eastern Ukraine, leading to the loss of so many precious lives."

Mukherjee added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the nationals of Malaysia and other countries who lost their lives in this tragic incident."

The Malaysia Airlines MH17 jetliner crashed on Thursday in Ukraine near the Russian border, with all 298 passengers and crew members on board killed.

Both the blackboxes from the plane were recovered on Friday and were kept in an undisclosed location, officials said.

IANS