TEHRAN: Iran has on Saturday announced that its military “unintentionally”shot down a Ukrainian airplane, killing all 176 people on board, accordingto state TV.
Iran in its statement termed the downing of the plane as “human error”.
A Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on theoutskirts of Tehran during takeoff a few hours after Iran launched abarrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq.
Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. Butthen the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shotit down.
The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians.
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Yesterday, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, citing intelligencefrom Canadian and other sources had claimed that the plane was shot down byIran.
Earlier, the US officials said that a Ukraine airliner was most likelybrought down accidentally by Iranian air defenses.
One US official said US satellites had detected the launch of two missilesshortly before the plane crashed, followed by evidence of an explosion. Twoofficials had said Washington link believed thedowning of the plane was accidental.
