Former college roommate of Malaysia Airlines passenger speaks

Bloomington, IN (WXIN) -- FOX59 spoke with a friend and former roommate of an Indiana University student who was on the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down in eastern Ukraine Thursday.

 

\"There are not many people like Karlijn on this planet,\" said friend Rachel Weigler.

 

Karlijn Keijzer, 25, was aboard the Boeing 777 with 295 people when it was shot down near the town of Torez in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. There were no survivors.

 

Friday, a preliminary classified U.S. intelligence analysis has concluded that the missile that hit Flight 17 most likely was fired by pro-Russian separatists inside eastern Ukraine, according to CNN who cited a U.S. defense official with direct access to the latest information.

 

Keijzer was a doctoral student at the university studying in IU's chemistry department. Weigler described her friend as a \"brilliant, brilliant girl.\"

 

\"There are so many people here missing her,\" said Weigler.

 

Keijzer, who was from Amsterdam, also received her master's degree from Indiana University.

 

\"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,\" Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie said. \"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.\"

 

Keijzer was also a decorated athlete with the IU women's rowing team during the 2011 season, helping the team to a 14-5 record. She earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athlete honors as well as Academic All-Big Ten accolades following the 2011 season. Keijzer also participated in the European Rowing Junior Championships in 2006 and the World Rowing Junior Championships in 2007.