<P> As a mark of respect to the passengers and crew who were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and their family members, some states had their states flag flown at half - mast . Similarly, as a mark of respect to the passengers and crew who were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and their family members, the national flag was flown at half - mast for three days and also on the national day of mourning, 22 August 2014 . The 2015 Sabah earthquake had a mourning day and the flag half - mast on 8 June 2015 . </P> <P> The flag of Malta is flown at half - mast on government buildings by instruction of the government through the Office of the Prime Minister, for example after 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami . </P> <P> The flag of the Netherlands is nationally flown at half - mast: </P> <Ul> <Li> On remembrance day of the dead (May 4th). After the formal 2 - minutes of silence at 8 p.m., the flag used to be hoisted upon the playing of the National Anthem . Since 2001, it is allowed to leave the flag at half - mast, even after the two minutes of silence; </Li> <Li> At the death of a member of the royal family; </Li> <Li> By instruction of the Dutch government through the office of the Prime Minister in special situations, such as happened after the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in which 193 Dutch citizens died and the 2009 attack on the Dutch royal family on 30 April, Koninginnedag, which resulted in the deaths of seven by - standers . </Li> </Ul>

Who can order a flag to be flown at half mast