MH17: Black box data shows plane hit by missile

DONETSK, Ukraine, July 27 (UPI) -- Data from a black box from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 indicates the airplane was shot down by a missile, a European air safety official said.

The data is consistent with the plane being hit by shrapnel from a missile explosion, the official, whose name wasn't reported, told CBS News.

"It did what it was designed to do," the official said of the suspected ground-to-air missile, "bring down airplanes."

The Boeing 777 was allegedly shot out of the sky July 19 over restive eastern Ukraine. The wreckage, including the bodies of 298 passengers and crew members, was strewn over several miles near Donetsk.

Investigators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Friday shrapnel-like holes were found in the fuselage debris of the jetliner.

Pro-Russian separatists in control of the eastern portion of Ukraine where the plane went down handed over the black box to Malaysian authorities last week.