Up to ten British passengers were feared to have been killed in the Malaysian passenger plane crash in the eastern part of Ukrain, the Daily Mail cited government sources as saying.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I'm shocked and saddened by the Malaysian air disaster. Officials from across Whitehall are meeting to establish the facts."

Britain has also requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York, the Britain Foreign Office said.

The new British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he was "deeply shocked" by the "appalling incident" and did not want to speculate on the causes.

The Britain Foreign Office has set up a helpline for anyone concerned.

TheMalaysia Airlines MH17 passenger plane crashed Thursday in Ukraine near the Russian border, with all the 280 passengers and 15 crew members on board reportedly having been killed.