It is feared that among the 298 people killed in the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in Ukraine are some of the best and brightest in the fight against AIDS and HIV.  The flight was shot down while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, where many would have caught connecting flights to Australia for the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne.

Ukrainian and US officials say MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in an eastern area controlled by pro-Russian separatists.  154 of the passengers were Dutch, including Dr. Joep Lange, a world-famous HIV/AIDS researcher and former International AIDS Society president.

“Reports Joep Lange died in Malaysian plane crash today, with other scientists on way to @AIDS_conference. Desperately sad news,” said Australia's National AIDS Trust on Twitter. 

“How do we measure how much a person has done for humanity? People like Joep change the course of epidemics,” tweeted US medical journalist Dr. Seema Yasmin.

Yvette Fleming of the group “Stop AIDS Now” wrote of her concerns about more HIV/AIDS researchers, “In shock! Lucie van Mens, Martine de Schutter, Pim de Kuijer, Joep Lange and Jacqueline van Tongeren never arrived in Melbourne!”

The International AIDS Conference is held every two years, providing a forum for researchers and campaigners to highlight grassroots and financing problems.  It’s scheduled to start on Sunday, with appearances by former US president Bill Clinton and musician/philanthropist/activist Bob Geldof before 12,000 participants.

Organizers released a statement earlier on Friday:

“The International AIDS Society (IAS) today expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today.

At this incredibly sad and sensitive time the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy.”