About the book
After Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, Matthew Horder was left to process the kind of loss that doesn’t come with a clear path forward.
Initially, there was no plan to document it all. But over time, one thing became clear ‒ what had happened, and what came after, was too important to be left to memory or fade with it.
So he wrote.
This book isn’t a political account or a technical breakdown of events. It’s a personal story of loss, and of navigating the long, public aftermath of a tragedy that reached far beyond one family ‒ told with honesty, clarity and care.
MH17 and the search for justice
The destruction of MH17 was not only a personal loss for hundreds of families. It was an international crime.
The aircraft came down in a region already marked by conflict. What followed was one of the most complex criminal investigations in modern aviation history.
Matthew found himself walking into spaces few civilians had ever seen: forensic hangars in the Netherlands where fragments of the aircraft were reconstructed piece by piece, briefings with investigators and rooms where evidence was explained in careful detail.
The work of the Joint Investigation Team, alongside the Australian Federal Police and international partners, was meticulous. Missile fragments were catalogued, flight paths were traced and wreckage was examined not as debris, but as evidence.
For families, the process was slow and often exhausting. It required repeated travel, repeated hearings and the retelling of events that never become easier to discuss.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Horder
Matthew Horder is a Queensland-based author, trusted manager and administrator, community leader and advocate whose life has been shaped by both deep personal loss and an unwavering commitment to public good.
Matthew’s life changed forever following the Flight MH17 tragedy in July 2014. In the years that followed, Matthew became a determined voice for his parents in justice and accountability, representing his family through the international criminal investigation and prosecution led by the Dutch authorities. His powerful victim impact statement, presented during the MH17 trial, was described by many as dignified, heartfelt and courageous.
Beyond his professional work, Matthew is deeply involved in community life. He has served in various roles across fifteen years at the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, including president, vice president, junior activities chair, age manager and patrol captain and continues to support fundraising and remembrance events. His reflections on leadership grief, resilience, justice and family have offered comfort and insight to others experiencing profound loss.
This memoir is Matthew’s first published work, a personal record of trauma, love, justice and healing. It honours his parents’ lives, reflects on the legacy of MH17 and shines a light on what it truly means to carry on in the face of unthinkable loss.
The Day the Sky Fell is the result of that commitment to documentation and honesty.
Book Matthew to speak at your next event
With more than two decades of experience in senior leadership roles, Matthew has played a key role in delivering major community and sport infrastructure projects, ensuring the long-term realisation of benefits for Queenslanders. He holds a degree in leisure management and a diploma in project management and is known for his integrity, empathy and ability to lead complex teams through high-pressure environments.
Matthew delivers customised keynote presentations for corporate teams, leadership groups and community organisations.
Turning life’s toughest moments into lasting impact - His flagship keynote explores how individuals and organisations respond when the unexpected happens and what it means to move forward with purpose rather than paralysis.
A PRESENTATION CAN INCLUDE
– 30-, 45- or 60-minute keynote
– a tailored question and answer session
– book signing and meet-and-greet.
A PRESENTATION CAN INCLUDE
– 30-, 45- or 60-minute keynote
– a tailored question and answer session
– book signing and meet-and-greet.