Remembering HIV Leaders Shot Down in Plane

The international HIV and AIDS community is marking 10 years since their colleagues were killed when their plane — Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 — was shot down by Russian-controlled forces over Ukraine in July 2014.

All 298 people on board died in the attack, including six delegates travelling from the Netherlands to the meeting of the International AIDS Society (IAS) in Melbourne, Australia. They were IAS president Joep Lange; his partner Jacqueline van Tongeren, director of communications, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development; Pim de Kuijer, lobbyist, Aidsfonds, STOP AIDS NOW!; Martine de Schutter, programme manager, Aidsfonds, STOP AIDS NOW! Lucie van Mens, director of support at the Female Health Company; and Glenn Thomas, World Health Organization communications officer.

“Their contributions to the HIV response were significant and their potential futures, immense,” said IAS president Sharon Lewin in a statement. “As the Local Co-Chair of AIDS 2014 and a Melburnian, I still feel the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 deeply to this day. Let us carry forward their spirit and dedication to the HIV response with compassion, innovation, and determination.”

Both the Dutch and Australian governments hold Russia responsible for the deadliest airline shoot-down incident to date, though Russia denies any involvement. Three men were convicted of murder in absentia by a Dutch court in 2022 for their role in bringing the missile launcher into Ukraine.

Many in the HIV community are traveling again this month to and from the international conference, which this year is being held in Munich, Germany, where new research and advances in care will be presented.