Malaysian radio stations were quick to react to overnight news that Malaysia Airlines MH17 had crashed over Ukraine – almost certainly shot down.

The jet, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was carrying 298 passengers and crew when it suddenly exploded, killing all on board.

The two sides in Ukraine’s civil conflict have accused each other of shooting the jet down with a missile.

Radio stations doubled their efforts to deliver the news that the country’s national carrier had been struck by a second tragedy in less than five months.

Morning news bulletins were extended to bring listeners the most up-to-date information along with a flurry of reaction on Social Media.

Several stations toned down their programming including Star Radio Group’s Chinese station 988FM which postponed several programming elements.

The company’s stations, including English language Red FM, also adapted its website and Social Media streams with live coverage of the latest developments.

It added audio and video content relating to the crash, sourced from Switch Up TV.

Media Prima’s One FM, Hot FM and Fly FM blacked out their websites and dropped all web elements with the exception of the ‘listen live’ button.

The stations posted a simple call for prayers for the families and friends on board the jet.

Just as in March when flight MH370 went missing, Malaysia’s largest radio network Astro called on the resources of its news channel Astro Awani.

The company’s stations Hitz.FM, Lite FM, Era FM, Mix FM, Sinar FM, Red FM and THR.FM posted prayer messages on their websites, while using Social Media to keep fans up to date with the latest developments.

Business station BFM took the lead in asking who carried out the alleged attack in its morning bulletins and on its website.