IU student Karlijn Keijzer was among the 298 people aboard Malaysian Flight 17 who died Thursday, IU confirmed.
Keijzer was a doctoral student studying chemistry and a former member of the IU rowing team.
"On behalf of the entire Indiana University community, I want to express my deepest sympathies to Karlijn's family and friends over her tragic death," IU President Michael McRobbie said in a release. "Karlijn was an outstanding student and a talented athlete, and her passing is a loss to the campus and the university. Our hearts also go out to the families of all the victims of this senseless act."
Ukrainian officials said Thursday they suspect the flight was shot down by rebels, as the plane's flight path was over an area of Ukraine that was controlled by the rebels. The true nature of what happened with Flight 17 is still unknown and currently under investigation.
"The Indiana Rowing family is deeply saddened by the news of Karlijn's sudden passing," IU Coach Steve Peterson said in a release. "She came to us for one year as a graduate student and truly wanted to pursue rowing. That year was the first year we really started to make a mark with the First Varsity 8 boat, and she was a huge reason for it. She was a phenomenal student and loved IU so much that she stayed here after she earned her master's degree. Our condolences go out to her family and friends in this very tough time."
Keijzer was a native of Amsterdam. She was 25 years old.
Evan Hoopfer
