International AIDS society confirms 6 delegates died in MH17 crash, contrary to earlier rumours of 100 deaths

International AIDS Society President Francoise Barre-Sinousi on Saturday said that at least six delegates heading to attend a global AIDS conference here were killed in the Malaysian plane crash in eastern Ukraine.

Barre-Sinoussi said that Joep Lange, former president of the International AIDS Society and a well-known HIV researcher from the Netherlands, was also killed in the crash.

She also said six delegates were on board and two more delegates may have been on the flight. "The number that we have confirmed through our contacts with authorities in Australia, in Malaysia, and Dutch authorities as well is six people. It may be a little bit more, but not the numbers that have been announced," she said.

According to media reports on Friday, at least 100 top researchers and participants were on board the flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur which was brought down in eastern Ukraine by a surface-to-air missile on Thursday.

The research community would have a 'moment of remembrance' tomorrow when the conference officially opens and a condolence book has been made available for people to leave tributes.

"The extent of our loss is hard to comprehend and express. Our colleagues were travelling because of their dedication to bringing an end to AIDS," Barre-Sinousi said. "They were colleagues and friends for a very long time. It's very hard for us."