News Local/State

Indiana University Student Among Dead In Malaysia Plane Crash

By The Associated Press, with additional reporting from Illinois Public Media
 

A doctoral student from Indiana University was among those killed when Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crashed in Ukraine.

A press release on the school's website confirms that Karlijn Keijzer, 25, was a doctoral student in the chemistry department of IU's College of Arts and Sciences.  She has earned her master's at the univesity, and was part of the women's rowing team in 2011.

Karlijn Keijzer in 2011 (Courtesy of Indiana University)

“On behalf of the entire Indiana University community, I want to express my deepest sympathies to Karlijn’s family and friends over her tragic death,” Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie said. “Karlijn was an outstanding student and a talented athlete, and her passing is a loss to the campus and the university. Our hearts also go out to the families of all the victims of this senseless act.”

Keijzer's Facebook page lists her as being from The Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Malaysians in Chicago are planning a vigil in memory of those killed in the downing of the Malaysian Airlines jetliner.
 
The Malaysian Club of Chicago says on its website that it will hold a vigil Friday evening at the club in the city's Bridgeport neighborhood. A message on the website says the club's "thoughts and prayers go out to those on board and their surviving families and friends.''
 
There was no confirmation that any Americans were on the flight, which was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.  UPDATE: President Barack Obama confirmed Friday morning that one U.S. citizen, identified as Lucas Schansman, is among the dead.
 
According to Malaysian Airlines officials, most of the passengers were Dutch. Others included Malaysians, Australians, Indonesians, Britons, Germans, Belgians and Filipinos. A Canadian and a New Zealander were also on board.