Indian-origin steward on-board MH17

An Indian origin flight steward was among the 15 crew members on-board the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down over Ukraine Thursday, media reported Friday.

Acoording to Sanjid Singh Sandu's father Jijar Singh, Sandu was not supposed to be on MH17 as he had switched his shift with a colleague, the Malaysian Star reported.

His mother had planned to cook Sanjid's favourite dishes for him upon his arrival in Penang.

Sanjid was Jijar's youngest child and only son.

"He last came home last month," Jijar said.

"My son spoke to me over the phone just before his flight. I didn't know that would be my last conversation with him," Jijar added.

Sandu's parents received the news from their daughter-in-law, who is also a flight stewardess with Malaysia Airlines at 4 a.m Friday.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysia Airlines MH17 jetliner crashed Thursday near the Russian border, with all the 298 passengers and crew members on board reportedly killed. It was believed to have been shot down by a rocket.

The flight took off from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.