Australian parents whose three children were killed on flight MH17 admit they considered suicide when they heard the news

The Australian parents whose three children died on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 considered killing themselves just hours after they heard the plane had been shot down.

Next month marks the fifth anniversary since the flight was shot down over eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 on board, including 38 Australian residents.  

Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris' children Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, eight, were on their way home to Perth with their granddad Nick Norris, 68, when they died on board the ill-fated plane.

Now, the parents have revealed how they considered jumping from an Amsterdam rooftop separately and together, after they were told the awful news.

Thankfully, they decided a joint suicide would be too hard for their relatives to cope with, and now they are commemorating their children and how far they have come following the disaster.

'Where we were was hell,' Marite told ABC's Australian Story. 

'The whole of Australia cared for us and we're really grateful for their kindness,' she said. 

'Part of what we're trying to do is to let them know how we are and let them know how far we've come.'

The couple revealed how three things have helped them through the dark times - the birth of their daughter Violet in 2016, a dedicated art space and a new  business - a sustainable farm. 

The birth of Violet in 2016 has helped ease the heartbreak of losing their three children and their grandad.

 'Violet's birth is a testament to our belief that love is stronger than hate,' the couple said in a statement in 2016.

'We still live with pain but Violet, and the knowledge that all four kids are with us, always brings light to our darkness. 

'As Martin Luther King said, 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'

Five years on, the couple are still trying to come to terms with death of their children but they are tying not to let hatred take over their lives.

'There's so much that's good and positive,' Mr Maslin said. 

'You focus on those bits and you just push all the other s**t away.'

His wife added:  'The love that I have for my kids — there's nothing more powerful than that. Tragedy can teach you things that you never wanted to learn, but you learn.'