Grieving friends and families post on victims' social media sites
Elaine Teoh and Emiel Mahler
A young Melbourne-based couple Elaine Teoh and Emiel Mahler, both 27, make up 2 of the 298 victims aboard downed MH17 airliner in Eastern Ukraine late Thursday (July 17) night.
According to Mail Online, Miss Teoh, originally from Penang in Malaysia, and Mr Mahler, a Dutch national, were on their way back to Kuala Lumpur for a wedding.
Ms Teoh's employer, IG Australia, who was also Mr Mahler's employer until he left in December last year, issued a statement which said "both were beloved members of our close IG community and were valued members of our team. We are deeply saddened by this news."
"Our thoughts and prayers are currently with their loved ones," they added.
Posts have filled Mr Mahler's Facebook page since news of the tragedy reached people all around the world.
Netizens who are acquainted with Elaine Teoh have also given their heartfelt condolences on Twitter.
Sanjid Singh Sandhu
News agencies are calling his death a "bizarre twist of fate".
He wasn't supposed to be on this flight but a "last minute swap with his colleague" meant that Sanjid Singh Sandhu, 41, worked the ill-fated MH17, his father Jijar Singh, 71, said.
The Malaysian Insider reported of the broken-hearted father saying: "He always called us before he leaves for his trip."
He reportedly continued between sobs: "Sanjid's wife was meant to fly on MH370 but swapped with another colleague at the last minute."
A Facebook remembrance page was created and has has garnered over 200 Facebook members who have been paying tribute to the former MAS steward.
Glenn Thomas
Among the Britons who have died in the Boeing 777-200 aircraft was Glenn Thomas, 49, a media officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Paying tribute to Mr Thomas, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said: “I can confirm he was on the flight travelling to Australia to attend the Aids conference in Australia.
Mr Thomas, who was described as a “wonderful person and a great professional”, was reportedly travelling to an international conference on Aids, reported Western Daily Press.
Colleagues, friends and family are left in shock as they filled Twitter with grievance messages.
Many also tweeted Mr Thomas' twin sister saying that "he died doing what he loved".
Sources: Mail Online, Facebook, Twitter, The Malaysian Insider and Western Daily Press
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