The International AIDS Society confirmed that six delegates were killed in the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 that was shot down over eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 , though initial reports from other outlets reported numbers of up to 100 delegates . The six delegates , including former society president Joep Lange , were acknowledged during the conference at the AIDS 2014 Candlelight Vigil event . News of the crash broke as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was preparing to air a live performance of the '' AIDS Memoir Quartet '' , a memorial work by former ACT UP activist Lyle Chan . Presenter Julian Day and Lyle Chan dedicated the performance to the crash victims and their families
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
XX International AIDS Conference, 2014