MH17 plane crash families prepare for critical trial phase

Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis (3L), and other trial judges and lawyers view the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at the Gilze-Rijen military Airbase, southern Netherlands on May 26, 2021. - Judges inspect wreckage of flight MH17 as part of criminal trial of four suspects.- AFP

AMSTERDAM: Families of people who died in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 said they were preparing to hear painful details when a critical stage of a trial over the crash starts on Monday.

MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Russian rebels during fighting with Ukrainian government troops, international investigators say.