This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
On January 8, 2020, a Ukrainian airliner crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people on board. According to Iranian authorities, the plane had turned back after experiencing a problem.
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation reported that the plane, initially headed west to leave the airport zone, turned right following a problem and was headed back to the airport at the moment of the crash.
Witnesses reported seeing a fire on board the plane, which grew in intensity, and the pilot sent no radio message about the unusual circumstances.
The organisation has questioned witnesses both on the ground and on board a second aircraft that was flying above the Ukrainian Boeing 737 as the disaster unfolded.
