MH17 crash: Dutch-Israeli student from Swinburne Uni identified

DUTCH-ISRAELI student Itamar Avnon has been identified as a victim on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Swinburne University is offering support services to staff and students affected by this tragedy. Diane Leow reports.

Swinburne University business student Itamar Avnon has been identified as one of 298 victims on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which crashed near the Russian-Ukraine border after a missile was allegedly fired from the ground.

Mr Avnon, 27, held both Dutch and Israeli citizenships. According to News Limited, he was on his way back to Australia to resume his studies after visiting family in Amsterdam and attending a wedding in Israel.

Photo: Facebook

In a statement released on Monday, Swinburne University said it “shares the sadness and shock felt by communities around the world over the fate of MH17″.

“The Swinburne University of Technology community has been devastated to learn that one of our international students, Mr Ithamar Avnon, was a passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17… Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Mr Avnon was in the second year of a Bachelor of Business (International Business) in the Faculty of Business and Enterprise.

The university added that it will offer support services for students and staff members who may be affected by the tragedy.

A Facebook group named “Itamar Avnon – Our friend and son” currently has more than 430 members. Friends and family have updated the group with old photos of Mr Avnon in happier times.