Passenger jet crashes in Ukraine: reports

There are reports a Malaysian passenger jet has crashed - possibly shot down - in eastern Ukraine.

Malaysia Airlines tweeted that they had lost contact with flight MH17, carrying 295 people.

The tweet read: "Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow"

AFP reports that Ukraine's interior minister has been quoted as saying the plane had been shot down.

The region of Donetsk is the site of intense fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government soldiers.

More to come.