Update: so yes, it was shot down according to flashing headlines.

MALAYSIAN PASSENGER JET WAS SHOT DOWN AT 10 KM ALTITUDE: IFX

While we hope it is a horrific accident, and has yet to be officially confirmed by Malaysian Airlines, the timing is oddly coincidental. From Bloomberg.

INTERFAX SAYS PLANE MAY HAVE CRASHED NEAR RUSSIA-UKRAINE BORDER

MALAYSIAN BOEING 777 MAY HAVE CRASHED IN UKRAINE: INTERFAX

The crash happened near Donetsk and the plane had 280 passengers on board. The question is - accident? Or was it shot down by Russia or Ukraine as a provocation.

The passenger jet was bound for Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, Interfax reports, citing an unidentified aviation official. Airliner began losing altitude 50 km before entering Russian air space; wreckage was found burning on Ukrainian territory Crash happend near Donetsk, where Ukrainian govt troops are fighting rebels: IFX

As ITAR-TASS reports,