MH17: Body of British victim and former BBC journalist Glenn Thomas identified

Mr Thomas was among the 298 people killed onboard flight MH17

Undated handout photo issued by the World Health Organization of Glenn Thomas one of the British victims killed when the flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, who has been formally identified, the Foreign Office said. (WHO/PA Wire )

A British victim killed when Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine last month has been formally identified as Glenn Thomas.

The Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday that the 49-year-old was one of ten Britons among 298 passengers and crew who died onboard the Boeing 777, which was downed by suspected pro-Russia rebels on 17 July.

Mr Thomas leaves behind his partner Claudio and sister Tracey. His family are now making plans for his remains to be returned to his home-town of Blackpool, according to BBC News.

A former BBC journalist, Mr Thomas worked as a communications officer for the World Health Organisation (WHO), and was one of six people who died while travelling to Australia for the 2014 International Aids Conference, onboard the plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The five other victims headed to the event included Professor Joep Lange, a pioneer of Aids treatment research and former IAS president, as well as his partner and fellow health professional Jacqueline van Tongeren; Martine de Schutter, of Aids Action Europe; Lucie van Mens of The Female Health Company; and Pim de Kuijer of the campaign group Stop Aids Now!

At the time of his death, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said: “We have lost a wonderful person and a great professional. Our hearts are broken. We are all in shock.”

The announcement comes after victim Liam Sweeney became the first British person onboard flight MH17 to be laid to rest.

On Friday, the remains of 20 bodies were flown home to Malaysia - the first of the country’s 43 nationals who were killed on flight MH17 when it crashed in July.

Following the crash, tensions have flared between the West and Russia and fighting has engulfed Ukraine's separatist east. Kiev has repeatedly accused Russia of stirring up trouble within its borders - a claim that Russia denies.