The Aussies lost on flight MH17

Pro Russian separatists are being blamed for firing a Russian built surface-to-air missile to bring down MH17 in eastern Ukraine

A blue passport bearing the distinctive Australian coat-of-arms has appeared in a Russian television news report from the crash site of MH17 in Ukraine.

An Australian passport seen among the wreckage. Source: Supplied

THREE people from the Northern Territory, including a teacher from a young outback community, are the latest Australians confirmed as having died in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 disaster.

Emma Bell, originally from Lithgow in the NSW Blue Mountains, moved to the Top End last year to teach in the remote community of Maningrida, 500kms east of Darwin.

Miss Bell was flying back home from her European holiday in time for the start of the new school term.

Her colleagues in the tight-knit community were devastated as condolence messages began to circulate in Maningrida yesterday morning.

It is understood the NT Education Department has spoken to Ms Bell's family.

Maningrida College homelands teacher Emma Bell. Source: Facebook

Chief Minister Adam Giles said the NT Government was working with Consular officials, and the NT Police Disaster Victim Identification staff remained on standby if needed to assist with identifications.

"This is truly reprehensible and unspeakable criminal act and on behalf of all Territorians, I wish to express my condolences to all the families and friends of the victims, particularly the Territory families involved, "Mr Giles said.

"This is a sad and sorry day for our country and all nations affected."

An unidentified NT public servant and her husband are also believed to have been on board the doomed flight.

Also flying back for the start of the new school term were three Perth children.

Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis Maslin, 8 were on the final leg of their trip-of-a-lifetime with their grandfather, Nick Norris.

Mo, Otis and Evie Norris Source: Supplied

The children's parents, who did not travel with them, are said to be devastated.

Mr Norris, a well-known sailor and member of the South Perth Yacht Club, is the managing director of Collaborative Systemic Change Pty Ltd. He leaves behind a wife.

Sydney nun Sister Philomena Tiernan with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart at Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart is also among the dead.

"This has come as an enormous shock to me and our school community as I am sure it will to all of you," the school's principal, Hilary Johnston-Croke, wrote to parents today.

"I heard from Phil yesterday morning and she told me that she had left Joigny, where she had been attending a retreat, in Paris while there, she saw Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in her caisse at St Francis Xavier Church, which was a very special moment for her.

"Phil was a very much loved staff member and friend. She contributed greatly to our community and she touched the lives of all at KRB in such a positive and meaningful way."

Sister Philomene Tiernan, centre. Photo: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Also from NSW are retired couple Michael and Carol Clancy, believed to be in their 60s, who were returning from a three-week European holiday.

A neighbour of the Illawarra couple was reportedly told of their deaths today.

Also among the dead are 27-year-old Melbourne University student Elaine Teoh, Victorian couple Albert and Marie Rizk and Toorak teacher Frankie Davison and her husband Liam.

Toowoomba pathologist Dr Roger Guard, his GP wife Jill, and Gold Coast woman Helena Sidelik have been confirmed as three of the nine Queenslanders to die in the MH17 crash.

Canberra mother-of-two Liliane Derden, 50, from Hall in Canberra's north, was on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 when it crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.

She worked for the National Health and Medical Research Council whose staff expressed deep sadness at the loss of a valued colleague and friend.

ACT acting chief minister Andrew Barr said the tragedy was devastating news for Ms Derden's family and friends.

A New Zealand woman, a long-time resident of Australia, was travelling with her husband, a Danish citizen, is also believed to have been on the flight.

Helena Sidelik was on her way home from a friend's wedding in Europe when she perished on Flight MH17 Source: Supplied

Pathologist Dr Roger Guard (above) and his GP wife Jill (below) were also on board the flight Source: News Corp Australia

Queenslanders Dr Jill Guard (above) and her pathologist husband Roger Guard were also on board the flight. Source: Supplied

Dr Guard, a long-time Queensland Health employee was due back at work on Monday and was returning from a European holiday with his wife.

The Herald Sun reports that Mr and Mrs Rizk, from Sunbury, missed an earlier flight and ended up on the doomed MH17.

Jack Ogilvie, a friend of the Rizks, said: "I'm in shock. He was one of the best blokes to have a beer with.

"We were actually looking after his son while they were away, making sure he was eating the right things, that sort of thing."

Albert Rizk (left) and his wife Marie (second from right) were believed to have been travelling on Flight MH17. Picture: Adam Elwood Source: News Corp Australia

The number of Australian passengers on board MH17 has been revised to 28, including nine from Queensland, nine from Victoria, seven from WA, one from NSW and one from the ACT.

One of the victims is a dual Australian citizen, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed.

Ms Bishop also warned the Australian toll may rise as investigators identify some of the 41 passengers who remain unaccounted for.

Perth management consultant and keen sailor Nick Norris was believed to have been on doomed Flight MH17 with his grandchildren. Source: Supplied

Mr Rizk, a local real estate agent, and his wife, who have two children, were due to return home from Europe today after spending a month abroad on holidays.

Jack Ogilvie, friend of the victims, told 3AW the Sunbury community is in shock at losing "just terrific people".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott this morning confirmed, "we're working with the Dutch to confirm identities. Once that's happened we'll be in contact with families and next of kin".

In an address to Parliament earlier, Mr Abbott reached out to the families affected by the crash.

"Our hearts go out to the families of all the dead," he said.

"We can't restore them to life but we can and will do everything to support them at this sad and bitter time, because that is the Australian way; we help in times of trouble."

Another victim was 24-year old Fatima Dyczynski, who was flying to Perth to meet her parents and begin a new life in Australia, PerthNow reports.

Starting a new life: Fatima Dyczynski. Photo: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Ms Dyczynski's parents Angela and George were waiting for their daughter at Perth Airport this afternoon and hoping against hope that she was still alive.

The couple, who have lived in Perth for the past seven years said they last spoke to their daughter via Skype moments before she boarded the aircraft.

Ms Dyczynski said it was her daughter's dream to return to Australia after spending one year as a student at Perth's John XXIII College in Year 11.

"It was all that she wanted," she said.

Ms Dyczynski, an Aerospace Engineer, was returning to Perth for an internship with IBM.

A family member cries as she receives the news of the ill fated flight MH17 on the phone. Picture: Rahman Roslan Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, distressed family members of relatives who were on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down in east Ukraine are expressing their anger and grief over the devastating news.

Akmar Mohd Noor wept as she explained her sister was on board the flight to visit her family.

"She was coming back from Geneva to celebrate with us for the first time in 30 years," she said.

The names of the 15 crew members on board the flight has been revealed as family members gathered in Kuala Lumpur and Amsterdam airports, growing increasingly restless waiting for official information.

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Malaysian news source Sin Chew released the names including its two Captains and Vice-Captains.

Malaysia Airlines revised the number of passengers travelling on flight MH17 from 295 to 298 people, while releasing further information of its passenger manifest.

Its latest announcement states: "As opposed to the earlier statement, the flight was carrying a total number of 298 people — comprising 283 passengers including three infants of various nationalities and 15 crew of Malaysian nationality. Some of the nationalities of the passengers are yet to be determined."

Screengrab of the crew members on MH17's passenger manifest. Source: Supplied

According to the airline's passenger list, the majority of the 283 passengers were Dutch (154), while 45 passengers were Malaysian, followed by 28 Australians.

Vision of an Australian passport found among the wreckage was aired on Russian television.

There were also 12 Indonesian, nine British, four German, four Belgian, three from the Philippines and one from Canada.

Fifteen crew members were also on board, all Malaysian nationals. It is believed all 298 passengers perished in the crash.

Three infants were on board.

Malaysia Airlines said it was in the process of notifying the relatives of passengers and crew.

"Our focus now is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilise its full support to provide all possible care to the next-of-kin," the airline said in a statement.

"Malaysia Airlines is deploying its "Go Team" to Amsterdam with a group of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of the passengers.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members."

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Earlier, it emerged that leading AIDS researcher Joep Lange was among more than 100 passengers who were on their way to Melbourne to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference. Mr Lange was president of the International AIDS Society.

"The International AIDS Society (IAS) today expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today," the IAS said in a statement.

"At this incredibly sad and sensitive time the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy."

Joep Lange was one of a number of researchers flying to Melbourne for the International AIDS Conference. Source: Supplied

In an interview with 3AW's Neil Mitchell this morning, Mr Abbott described the incident as an "unspeakable crime".

"This is a grim, grim day," he said.

"If I could first of all offer my deepest condolences of passengers and families on this plane.

"I'll be attempting to call the Malaysian Prime Minister and Holland Prime Minister because they deserve our support. As well as expressing deepest condolences, as well as offering thoughts and prayers to Australian families, we do need to consider wider issue of this."

Devastating: a guidebook found scattered among the crash site. Source: AP

A suitcase found in the wreckage. Source: AP

DFAT MH17 24-HOUR FAMILY HOTLINE — 1300 555 135

A fireball is seen shortly after the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane was shot down. Source: Supplied

MORE: MALAYSIA AIRLINES PLANE MH17 'SHOT DOWN'

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Authorities collecting passports at #MH17 crash site. Australian coat of arms clearly visible. Source: Supplied

Amateur video has surfaced online which claims to show a 'plane crash' near the coal mining village of Hrabovo, Ukraine. Courtesy Novorossiya Novorossiysk/YouTube

28 Australians have been confirmed to be travelling on MH17. Source: Supplied

If you are unable to contact family members and still hold concerns for their welfare, you should call DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on + 61 2 6261 3305 from overseas, or within Australia on 1300 555 135.

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