BRUSSELS – European flight safety body Eurocontrol said Thursday that Ukrainian authorities have closed the airspace over the east of the country following the crash of a Malaysian airliner with 295 people on board.

“Since the crash, the Ukrainian authorities have informed Eurocontrol of the closure of routes from the ground to unlimited (altitude) in Eastern Ukraine,” a Eurocontrol statement said.

“All flight plans that are filed using these routes are now being rejected by Eurocontrol. The routes will remain closed until further notice,” it added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine rebels say they are ready for temporary truce after plane crash. A top rebel leader in eastern Ukraine said insurgents were prepared to agree to a short ceasefire to allow a recovery operation for the Malaysian airliner that crashed in territory they control.

Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic”, said that separatist forces would be ready to commit to a truce for several days, when asked by an AFP reporter.