An alternative explanation is that Washington's stooge government in Kiev in an assassination attempt against Vladimir Putin mistook the Malaysian airliner for Putin's airplane. 

The circumstantial evidence in favor of the former explanation is that the Western media was primed and ready to go with stories blaming Russia the minute the news broke that the airliner had been downed. No evidence was available, but the Western media was uniform in accusations against Russia and "Russian-supported separatists." 

In making up your own mind, consider these two reports:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/support-mh17-truth-osce-monitors-identify-shrapnel-like-holes-indicating-shelling-no-firm-evidence-of-a-missile-attack/5394324  
http://www.globalresearch.ca/mh-17-the-unanswered-questions/5465618