MH17 10 years on: Malaysian aspires to follow pilot-father’s career in tribute to crew

Dutch PM Dick Schoof has promised to press ahead with investigations into the tragedy at a memorial service held in the Netherlands

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Scot Choo, a 21-year-old Malaysian, attends a memorial service for the victims of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight, including his pilot-father Eugene Choo, held at Vijfhuizen Park, the Netherlands on July 17. Photo: Amy Chew

Published: 10:00am, 19 Jul 2024

Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, Scot Choo stepped onto a podium to read out the names of the pilots and cabin crew of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines MH17. At a memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of the downing of the plane, the 21-year-old Malaysian highlighted one of the four pilots who flew MH17 in his tribute: his father.

All 298 passengers and cabin crew on board the flight were killed after a missile was fired at the plane by pro-Russian rebels over Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

“My loving father, Eugene Choo Jin Leong … thank you for serving our nation. We will miss you,” said Choo in a calm voice, moving many with his tribute during the event held at Vijfhuizen Park near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Wednesday.

Families and friends of the victims started crying under the clear blue skies, surrounded by hundreds of trees planted for every victim of MH17 at the park.

King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof along with other dignitaries around the world attended the memorial where a crowd of 1,500 had gathered. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim did not attend the service.

“I don’t think anyone could see it, but deep down, it was difficult to read out the names because it meant so much to me. When I [finally] read out the names, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. I felt proud to commemorate their [MH17 pilots and cabin crew members’] service to the nation.”