SEPANG (The Star/Asia News Network) - Datin Siti Dina was distraught when she arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Her daughter and three grandchildren were onboard the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

She was informed of the plane crash by a friend who called her at about 12.30am on Friday.

Her daughter Sherliza Zaini, 45, was aboard the plane with her Dutch husband and three children aged 8, 12 and 15.

They were returning from a holiday in Amsterdam and were supposed to be in transit at KLIA en route to their home in Melbourne, Australia.

"My friend and I watched the news on CNN as soon as I received the call.

"I called up my son-in-law's family immediately," she said in tears at the registration counter for the Family Friend Holding Area here.

Datin Siti Dina told reporters that she had to check with the relevant authorities first before deciding on the next course of action.

Flight MH17 took off from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport shortly after noon Thursday and was supposed to land in Kuala Lumpur at about 6.10am local time on Friday.

It was carrying 298 passengers and 15 crew members.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said early Friday that Ukrainian authorities believe that the Boeing 777 was shot down.

Flight tracking data indicated that the plane was at its cruising altitude of 33,000 feet when it disappeared.