Kuala Lumpur ( CNN ) -- More than a month after the airliner they were traveling on was shot out of the skies above eastern Ukraine , the bodies of 20 Malaysian passengers arrived back in Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia observed a national day of mourning . Families of the victims of Malaysia Flight MH17 gathered at the Malaysian capital 's international airport for the repatriation ceremony , as a special chartered Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747 touched down just after 9.30 a.m. local time Friday following its journey from Amsterdam . After the airliner taxied to its stand at the airport 's Bunga Raya complex , usually reserved for receiving visiting dignitaries , it was met by uniformed pall bearers from Malaysia 's armed forces , who proceeded to unload the caskets , which were all draped in the country 's flag , into the waiting fleet of white hearses . The victims ' families were joined by Prime Minister Najib Razak , who escorted King Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Queen Haminah Hamidun to their seats among the gathering of around 1,000 people . A minute 's silence was observed nationwide at 10.55 a.m. as the last of the caskets was unloaded . `` Last month , 43 Malaysian lives were taken over eastern Ukraine . Today we mourn the loss of our people . Today , we begin to bring them home , '' the prime minister said . `` Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives . Today we stand with you , united as one . '' MH17 , which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam , was shot down by a missile as it flew over Ukraine on July 17 , killing all 298 passengers and crew on board . Forty-three of those on board were Malaysians , including 15 crew members and two infants . Investigators have been carrying out the painstaking task of recovering bodies from the crash site before transporting them to the Netherlands for identification -- a process that could take months , Dutch authorities have warned . About two-thirds of those killed were Dutch , with Malaysians and Australians making up a large proportion of the others . Day of mourning . Malaysia Airlines , which experienced its second tragedy this year following the disappearance of Flight MH370 as it flew to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on March 8 , distributed black ribbons to cabin crew company-wide , while a flag at its offices flew at half-mast . A statement from the airline read : `` Malaysia Airlines is deeply saddened by this devastating tragedy . It has been a long and painful wait for the families and friends of the passengers and crew onboard MH17 . '' While the mood at the airport was expectantly somber , the awaiting families were nevertheless prepared for the occasion . Some broke into tears as they shook hands with government ministers and airline crew , but most just took their seats at the side of the tarmac to await the special flight . The motorcade carrying the 20 passengers moved slowly past the families and on towards two Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and three military helicopters . Seven were flown back to their respective hometowns , while the remaining passengers will be transported by land for proper burials . Outside the airport , crowds gathered nearby to catch a glimpse of the ceremony , as many other Malaysians across the country watched a live broadcast . On the roads leading in and out of the airport , cars stopped to allow the convoy of hearses to pass by . First responder : What I saw at Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash site .
Specially chartered `` Malaysia Airlines flight arrives in Ukraine . Carrying bodies of 298 passengers killed aboard flight MH17 . MH17 shot over Kuala Lumpur , with the loss of 20 passengers and crew on board .