A teary night in remembrance of MH17 victims
The Malaysian Insider – 3 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- A teary night in remembrance of MH17 victims
Tears flowed yesterday night as many paid their respects during a touching interfaith prayer ceremony for the victims of downed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17.
Organised by Malaysia Airlines, the prayers saw about 400 gathered at the MAS training academy in Kelana Jaya, consisting of MAS crew members, relatives of MH370 crew members and family members of Malaysians who died aboard MH17.
The event began with the breaking of fast, and a touching memorial video of the victims aboard MH17. Following suit were 15-minute prayer sessions conducted by Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus and Taoists.
Air steward John Yeong said he knew many of the MH17 crew members as they had been friends and colleagues for the better part of a decade.
"We are all very sad over the loss of the two aircraft but we are still doing our best to be professional."
The 42-year-old said once the aircraft doors closed and the plane was up in the air, the people they were closest with was their own colleagues.
"Everyone is trying their best to carry out their duties professionally, but in our hearts, we are feeling the loss of our close friends and colleagues."
Despite the losses of MH17 and MH370, Yeong said he was determined to continue working, saying this was his chosen career path.
"I have been working with Malaysia Airlines for the past 20 years and I have confidence in the airline's track record."
Stewardess Nilda Azreen could not contain her emotions as she spoke about her close friend Nur Shazana Mohamad Salleh, who was aboard MH17.
"We last spoke on July 7 and had made plans to buka puasa together," she said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"She was a very bubbly person and always worked hard. There were times when she did not want to take her off days."
Also present were United States ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, and MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.
Liow led the attendees to a tribute wall which had been erected in memory of the 15 crew members and 283 passengers of MH17.
A candlelight formation which spelled MH17 had also been lighted as flowers were placed in memory of those who had lost their lives.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 had departed on July 17 and was bound for Kuala Lumpur when it was hit by a surface-to-air missile in eastern Ukraine.
This was the second international tragedy for the Malaysian flag carrier in four months.
On March 8, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared after departing from Kuala Lumpur. There has been no sign of the Beijing-bound aircraft or the 12 crew members and 227 passengers. – July 26, 2014.
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