KIEV: Malaysian officials have taken possession of the two black boxes from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

The black boxes, or flight data recorders, were handed over to the officials in Donetsk early today.

They were believed to have been handed over about 1am (6am Malaysia).

The Malaysian officials were led by a National Security Council member Colonel Mohamed Shukri.

A signing ceremony was held to hand over the black boxes by separatist leader Alexander Borodai.

Special investigation team chef de mission Khairil Hilmi Mokhtar confirmed the handing over without elaborating.

However, sources said the black boxes appeared to be in good condition.

“There is not much damage to the outer casing and we are confident that the data has not been tampered with or damaged.”

It could not be immediately ascertained where the black boxes would be taken to though it is believed it will brought back here as soon as possible.

The data from the black boxes, if undamaged, is expected to merely point to the well-known fact that MH17 ended suddenly.

However, within the black box is the cockpit voice recorder and it is this that experts hope will shed some light on how the flight ended.

-Nst