Stories of Crash Victims Coming to Light

Miami's Palmer Trinity School is mourning alumnus Kevin Jesurun, a Dutch passenger on flight MH17 who once called our area home. He was part of the class of 1990.

When Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot down by a missile on Thursday, all 298 passengers and crew on board were killed. As the investigation and disorganized rescue efforts continue at the crash site in a part of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separtists, the stories of those on board are coming to light.

Miami's Palmer Trinity School is mourning alumnus Kevin Jesurun, a Dutch passenger on flight MH17 who once called our area home. He was part of the class of 1990.

Palmer Trinity released a statement, saying in part, "Kevin will be remembered, by his former teachers and classmates, as a friendly and easy going person, with an infectious smile. Palmer Trinity School offers our deepest condolences and sympathy to Kevin's friends and family."

Nineteen-year-old Quinn Schansman was a U.S. citizen. He was born in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The university student had spent most of his life in the Netherlands. He was traveling to meet his family on vacation in Malaysia.

"As a grandparent you just hope that none of your children, or grandchildren will go before you. And now it has happened," said his grandfather Ronald Schansman.

And 25-year-old Karlijn Keijzer from Amsterdam was studying in the U.S. The Indiana University doctoral student was seeking a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. The former member of Indiana's rowing team was described as having a bright future ahead.

"She was always so positive and willing and hard-working. She was amazing at everything that she did. She was a chemistry major. She was super smart. She was an amazing athlete,” said her friend Asja Zero.

President Barack Obama has made it clear, the U.S. has specific evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane and that Russia is responsible.

"A group of separatists can't shoot down military transport planes or they claim, shoot down fighter jets, without sophisticated equipment and sophisticated training, and that is coming from Russia," Mr. Obama said at in an address to the nation on Friday.

Jesurun, Schansman, and Keijzer are just 3 of the 298 faces of a global tragedy.

"An Asian airliner was destroyed in European skies filled with citizens from many countries so there has to be a credible investigation into what happened," President Obama said.

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