Iran Admits 'Unintentional' Shooting Down Of Ukrainian Plane
Iranian military confirmed on Saturday that it had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 people on board.
A military statement blamed “human error” for downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 which was mistaken for a hostile target after it took an unexpected turn toward a sensitive site belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
“The military was at its highest level of readiness” amid the heightened tensions with the US, it said, adding: “In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit." Initially, Iran had maintained that mechanical issues had brought the Boeing aircraft down and ruled out a missile attack on the plane near Tehran on Wednesday. Pressure mounted after the leaders of the US, the UK and Canada cited intelligence suggesting that Ukraine's Boeing-737 passenger plane crashed due to Iran's missile attack, adding that Iran may have "accidentally" downed the Ukrainian jet. The plane crashed just hours after Iran targeted two US military bases with over a dozen ballistic missiles in Iraq. Of all 176 passengers killed in the crash, 82 were from Iran, 63 from Canada, 11 from Ukraine, 10 from Sweden, 4 from Afghanistan and Germany, 3 were from Britain. President Hassan Rouhani tweeted: “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences.”
“The military was at its highest level of readiness” amid the heightened tensions with the US, it said, adding: “In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit." Initially, Iran had maintained that mechanical issues had brought the Boeing aircraft down and ruled out a missile attack on the plane near Tehran on Wednesday. Pressure mounted after the leaders of the US, the UK and Canada cited intelligence suggesting that Ukraine's Boeing-737 passenger plane crashed due to Iran's missile attack, adding that Iran may have "accidentally" downed the Ukrainian jet. The plane crashed just hours after Iran targeted two US military bases with over a dozen ballistic missiles in Iraq. Of all 176 passengers killed in the crash, 82 were from Iran, 63 from Canada, 11 from Ukraine, 10 from Sweden, 4 from Afghanistan and Germany, 3 were from Britain. President Hassan Rouhani tweeted: “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences.”
The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, wrote: “A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by armed forces: human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.”The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020
My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm
A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020
Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster
Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.
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