This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
Iran Plane Crash: Investigators Reveal New Details ¶
A Ukraine International Airlines plane crashed in Iran on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 people on board. The Boeing 737-800 was trying to return to Imam Khomeini airport when it crashed, according to Iranian investigators.
The plane took off from Tehran's airport just minutes before it went down, leaving no survivors. An initial probe found the aircraft experienced a problem as it was leaving the airport zone and was 'on fire'.
Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation (CAOI) chief Ali Abedzadeh said the plane turned right following a problem and was headed back to the airport at the moment of the crash. Witnesses saw the plane 'on fire' before the crash, and pilots hadn't made any distress calls before trying to return to the airport.
Mr Abedzadeh added that the initial findings had been sent to Ukraine and the US, where Boeing is headquartered. Sweden and Canada had also been sent the findings, as their nationals were on board.
Ukraine has declared January 9 a day of national mourning. The country's President Volodymyr Zelensky said a thorough and independent investigation will be conducted in accordance with international law.
Boeing said it was 'ready to assist in any way needed', while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country expected to have a role in the investigation and had offered technical assistance.
The Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 to Kyiv had 176 people on board when it crashed in Iran. The majority of passengers were from Iran and Canada.
Among the victims were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians including all nine crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons and three Germans, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said.
