45°
PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Putnam County residents were stunned by the news of a Malaysian airliner that the United State has said was shot down over the Russian-Ukrainian border Thursday.
According to reports, the Boeing 777 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 280 passengers and 15 crew. There have been reports that 23 Americans were on the flight.
No one has taken responsibility for the plane being shot down.
Putnam Valley Supervisor Bob Tendy called the incident a "terrible tragedy."
"I just feel for the families of these poor people," Tendy said. "It's just horrible."
Tendy said he was worried about the situation in Ukraine before this incident and said he was a lot more worried now.
Erin Meagher, president of the Landmarks Preservationists Society of Southeast said it was a horrible tragedy.
"We really need to question what's going on in Russia and our foreign policy," Meagher said. "We need to analyze our air safety and how Americans are transported safely in international airspace."
Her father, Lake Carmel resident Neil Meagher, called it a “tragic situation.”
“It was amazing that they were flying, actually, over a hostile area,” he said, adding that he thought it was negligent.
Tom Auchterlonie also contributed to this report.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Putnam and receive free news updates.
