<p>Iranian state television on Saturday said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-given-important-data-on-iran-plane-crash-ukraine-foreign-minister-273408">Ukrainian International Airlines airplane</a> was brought down by Iranian military due to "human error", news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>As per reports, the Ukrainian plane had flown close to a sensitive military site.</p>

<p>The military statement reported by the state TV added that "responsible parties would be held accountable".</p>

<p>The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing went down outside Tehran shortly after take-off on Wednesday. The crash killed all 176 people who were on board including many Iranians and Canadians.</p>

<p>Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter today and confirmed the same.</p>

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<p>Zarif said that after an internal investigation, preliminary conclusions suggest that the Ukrainian airplane was shot down by military due to human error.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-retaliation-to-missile-attacks-us-imposes-more-sanctions-on-iran-273480">In retaliation to missile attacks, US imposes more sanctions on Iran</a></strong></p>

<p>"A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of an internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at the 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," Zarif tweeted out.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:<br />
<br />
Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster<br />
<br />
Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.<br />
💔</p>
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1215847283381755914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also tweeted out and confirmed Iran shooting down the Ukrainian passenger plane. Rouhani added that investigations to identify and prosecute those involved in "great tragedy and unforgivable mistake" is under process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane &amp; death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify &amp; prosecute this great tragedy &amp; unforgivable mistake. #PS752," Rouhani's tweet read.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane &amp; death of 176 innocent people.<br />
Investigations continue to identify &amp; prosecute this great tragedy &amp; unforgivable mistake. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PS752?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PS752</a></p>
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) <a href="https://twitter.com/HassanRouhani/status/1215856039997984768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier, Britain and Canada also claimed that intelligence sources suggested a catastrophic error by Iranian air defence batteries had crashed the aircraft.</p>

<p>Iran had earlier denied the possibility of a missile strike behind the crash of the Ukrainian airplane.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gets-access-to-crashed-planes-black-boxes-foreign-minister-273477">Ukraine gets access to crashed plane's black boxes,' foreign minister</a></strong></p>

<p>Ukrainian and Canadian authorities had called for a thorough investigation into the mishap.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over 80 Iranians and more than 60 Canadians were killed in the plane crash. The Boeing 737 was taking off from Tehran for Kiev when it crashed killing all those on board.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The crash came shortly after Tehran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops to avenge the US killing of a top Iranian general last week.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from Reuters)</em></p>


Iranian state television on Saturday said that the Ukrainian International Airlines airplane was brought down by Iranian military due to "human error", news agency Reuters reported.

Iranian state television on Saturday said that the Ukrainian International Airlines airplane was brought down by Iranian military due to "human error", news agency Reuters reported. As per reports, the Ukrainian plane had flown close to a sensitive military site. The military statement reported by the state TV added that "responsible parties would be held accountable". The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing went down outside Tehran shortly after take-off on Wednesday. The crash killed all 176 people who were on board including many Iranians and Canadians. Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter today and confirmed the same. × Zarif said that after an internal investigation, preliminary conclusions suggest that the Ukrainian airplane was shot down by military due to human error. Also read: In retaliation to missile attacks, US imposes more sanctions on Iran "A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of an internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at the 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," Zarif tweeted out. 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. 💔 — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020 × Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also tweeted out and confirmed Iran shooting down the Ukrainian passenger plane. Rouhani added that investigations to identify and prosecute those involved in "great tragedy and unforgivable mistake" is under process. "Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752," Rouhani's tweet read. Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 — Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020 × Earlier, Britain and Canada also claimed that intelligence sources suggested a catastrophic error by Iranian air defence batteries had crashed the aircraft. Iran had earlier denied the possibility of a missile strike behind the crash of the Ukrainian airplane. Also read: 'Ukraine gets access to crashed plane's black boxes,' foreign minister Ukrainian and Canadian authorities had called for a thorough investigation into the mishap. Over 80 Iranians and more than 60 Canadians were killed in the plane crash. The Boeing 737 was taking off from Tehran for Kiev when it crashed killing all those on board. The crash came shortly after Tehran launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops to avenge the US killing of a top Iranian general last week. (With inputs from Reuters)

Great tragedy and unforgivable mistake: Iranian president on military 'unintentionally' shooting down Ukrainian airplane

<p>The Canadian government, under pressure at home to be tougher on Iran over intelligence reports it shot down a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-given-important-data-on-iran-plane-crash-ukraine-foreign-minister-273408">passenger jet</a>, on Friday reiterated calls for a full probe into the disaster and warned Tehran that "the world is watching".</p>

<p>Friends and families of some of the Canadians killed when a Ukrainian airliner crashed outside Tehran are demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take a harder stance after accusing Iran of downing the plane, albeit probably by mistake. Iran denies the charge.</p>

<p>"Time will tell and the world is watching," said Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne when asked whether Iran was conducting its probe into what happened in good faith.</p>

<p>"I think transparency is what the international community is looking for now," he told a news conference.</p>

<p>Champagne said Ottawa now thought 57 Canadians died in the crash, down from an initial 63, and said an emergency task force was being created to help the families of the victims.</p>

<p>While Trudeau faces pressure at home to respond strongly, he has few options, especially after Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012. Iran has said it will allow Canadian, US&nbsp;and other international officials to participate in the investigation into Wednesday's crash.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gets-access-to-crashed-planes-black-boxes-foreign-minister-273477">Ukraine gets access to crashed plane's black boxes, says foreign minister</a></strong></p>

<p>The prime minister "completely misses the point" when he does not condemn the Iranian government, said Ali Ashtari, 39, a data scientist from Toronto who lost a friend in the crash.</p>

<p>Ashtari said Canada should designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on them. The government already lists the IRGC's overseas arm, the Quds Force, as a terrorist group.</p>

<p>"This is the minimum that we want from the government," Ashtari said at a vigil in Toronto. "Otherwise it's just giving speech with teary eyes, it gives nothing."</p>

<p>Trudeau said Ottawa had demanded Canadian access to Iran to provide consular services, identify victims and participate in the crash investigation.</p>

<p>Champagne said Iran had granted two visas so far to Canadian officials.</p>

<p>The crash on Wednesday, which killed all 176 people on board, occurred as Iran was on alert for possible reprisals after it launched missiles on bases housing US&nbsp;troops in Iraq.</p>

<p>"We would just urge him (Trudeau) to use all his power to find out what really happened and hold the responsible accountable," Amir Arsalani, who lost his sister, her husband and their one-year-old daughter, told Reuters.</p>

<p>Trudeau sidestepped questions on Thursday as to whether the United States should be held at least partially responsible given that Iran's attack on US&nbsp;forces was in retaliation for a US drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, former Quds Force leader.</p>

<p>The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. cited two government sources as saying Washington should have warned Canada in advance about the drone strike. Ottawa also wants a more thorough explanation of the thinking behind the attack, they added.</p>

<p>Champagne did not answer questions about whether Canada should have been warned.</p>

<p>Ottawa is focusing in talks with allies on how it can play as large a role as possible in the probe rather than expressing anger against either Iran or the United States, according to three sources familiar with the private conversations.</p>

<p>"There has been no fingerpointing or blame at this stage," said one of the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.</p>

<p>Relations between Trudeau and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump are formal at best, with Trudeau last month caught on camera joking about Trump, and the president calling him "two-faced".</p>

<p>There was no benefit to the government to further sour relations by making "a big public statement" about the United States, said Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst and international relations professor at Carleton University in Ottawa.</p>

<p>Ottawa's best option for now was to persuade like-minded nations to put pressure on Iran, she added.</p>

<p>Champagne said Canada had formed a coordinating group with Britain, Ukraine, Sweden and Afghanistan to help the families of the victims and pressure Iran for a full probe.</p>

<p>Trudeau has few ways to punish Iran in the short term. Bilateral trade - already limited by sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program - totalled just over C$200 million in 2018.</p>

<p>Trudeau was due to meet privately with family members of the victims in Toronto on Friday.</p>


The Canadian government, under pressure at home to be tougher on Iran over intelligence reports it shot down a passenger jet, on Friday reiterated calls for a full probe into the disaster and warned Tehran that "the world is watching".

The Canadian government, under pressure at home to be tougher on Iran over intelligence reports it shot down a passenger jet, on Friday reiterated calls for a full probe into the disaster and warned Tehran that "the world is watching". Friends and families of some of the Canadians killed when a Ukrainian airliner crashed outside Tehran are demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take a harder stance after accusing Iran of downing the plane, albeit probably by mistake. Iran denies the charge. "Time will tell and the world is watching," said Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne when asked whether Iran was conducting its probe into what happened in good faith. "I think transparency is what the international community is looking for now," he told a news conference. Champagne said Ottawa now thought 57 Canadians died in the crash, down from an initial 63, and said an emergency task force was being created to help the families of the victims. While Trudeau faces pressure at home to respond strongly, he has few options, especially after Canada broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012. Iran has said it will allow Canadian, US and other international officials to participate in the investigation into Wednesday's crash. Also read: Ukraine gets access to crashed plane's black boxes, says foreign minister The prime minister "completely misses the point" when he does not condemn the Iranian government, said Ali Ashtari, 39, a data scientist from Toronto who lost a friend in the crash. Ashtari said Canada should designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on them. The government already lists the IRGC's overseas arm, the Quds Force, as a terrorist group. "This is the minimum that we want from the government," Ashtari said at a vigil in Toronto. "Otherwise it's just giving speech with teary eyes, it gives nothing." Trudeau said Ottawa had demanded Canadian access to Iran to provide consular services, identify victims and participate in the crash investigation. Champagne said Iran had granted two visas so far to Canadian officials. The crash on Wednesday, which killed all 176 people on board, occurred as Iran was on alert for possible reprisals after it launched missiles on bases housing US troops in Iraq. "We would just urge him (Trudeau) to use all his power to find out what really happened and hold the responsible accountable," Amir Arsalani, who lost his sister, her husband and their one-year-old daughter, told Reuters. Trudeau sidestepped questions on Thursday as to whether the United States should be held at least partially responsible given that Iran's attack on US forces was in retaliation for a US drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, former Quds Force leader. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. cited two government sources as saying Washington should have warned Canada in advance about the drone strike. Ottawa also wants a more thorough explanation of the thinking behind the attack, they added. Champagne did not answer questions about whether Canada should have been warned. Ottawa is focusing in talks with allies on how it can play as large a role as possible in the probe rather than expressing anger against either Iran or the United States, according to three sources familiar with the private conversations. "There has been no fingerpointing or blame at this stage," said one of the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. Relations between Trudeau and US President Donald Trump are formal at best, with Trudeau last month caught on camera joking about Trump, and the president calling him "two-faced". There was no benefit to the government to further sour relations by making "a big public statement" about the United States, said Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst and international relations professor at Carleton University in Ottawa. Ottawa's best option for now was to persuade like-minded nations to put pressure on Iran, she added. Champagne said Canada had formed a coordinating group with Britain, Ukraine, Sweden and Afghanistan to help the families of the victims and pressure Iran for a full probe. Trudeau has few ways to punish Iran in the short term. Bilateral trade - already limited by sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program - totalled just over C$200 million in 2018. Trudeau was due to meet privately with family members of the victims in Toronto on Friday.

Canada, under pressure at home over plane crash, warns Iran world is watching

<p>President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Saturday that Iran punish those <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner</a>, pay compensation and apologise.</p>

<p>"We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains.</p>

<p>Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-given-important-data-on-iran-plane-crash-ukraine-foreign-minister-273408">Ukraine International Airlines</a> (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq.</p>

<p>"We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added</p>

<p>He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology".</p>

<p>Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said earlier Saturday that Tehran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake".</p>

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<p>UIA chief Yevhenii Dykhne also posted on Facebook, saying: "We never had any doubt that our crew and our plane could be the cause of this terrible catastrophe. They were the best."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-aircraft-was-not-hit-by-a-missile-irans-civil-aviation-chief-273368">Ukraine</a> said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gets-access-to-crashed-planes-black-boxes-foreign-minister-273477">granted access to the flight's black boxes</a>, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower.</p>

<p>Iran's official IRNA news agency published a statement from the military saying the Boeing 737 was mistaken for a "hostile plane" at a time when threats were at the highest level.</p>

<p>Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation.</p>

<p>The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes</p>

<p>Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces.</p>

<p>Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight.</p>

<p>"Iran has shown itself more civilised than Russia," pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook.</p>

<p>"Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it."</p>


President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Saturday that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, pay compensation and apologise. "We expect Iran.

President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded Saturday that Iran punish those responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, pay compensation and apologise. "We expect Iran... to bring the guilty to the courts," the Ukrainian leader wrote on Facebook, calling also for the "payment of compensation" and the return of remains. Tehran admitted Saturday that it accidentally downed the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane, killing all 176 people on board on Wednesday, shortly after launching missiles at bases hosting US forces in Iraq. "We hope the inquiry will be pursued without deliberate delay and without obstruction," Zelensky added He urged "total access" to the full inquiry for 45 Ukrainian experts, and in a tweet also sought an "official apology". Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said earlier Saturday that Tehran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". × UIA chief Yevhenii Dykhne also posted on Facebook, saying: "We never had any doubt that our crew and our plane could be the cause of this terrible catastrophe. They were the best." Ukraine said Friday its experts dispatched to Iran had been granted access to the flight's black boxes, debris from the plane, the crash site and to recordings of conversations between the pilot and the airport control tower. Iran's official IRNA news agency published a statement from the military saying the Boeing 737 was mistaken for a "hostile plane" at a time when threats were at the highest level. Tehran has invited the United States, Ukraine, Canada and others to join the crash investigation. The majority of passengers on UIA Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kiev were Iranian-Canadian dual nationals but also included Ukrainians, Afghans, Britons and Swedes Many in Kiev have compared the crash to the 2014 downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 killing 298 people over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are fighting government forces. Moscow has denied the findings of international investigators that a Russian BUK misile hit the Malaysian flight. "Iran has shown itself more civilised than Russia," pro-western Ukraine MP Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook. "Tehran has admitted its guilt in three days while Russia continues to try to get out of it."

Ukraine demands punishment, compensation for airliner downed by Iran

<p>Unverified pictures of a missile-looking structure shared online by Iranian accounts have fanned speculations around the Ukrainian airplane crash.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The images suggest the existence of a missile attack on the Ukranian International Airlines airplane that crashed on Wednesday in Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, some Iranian users have reportedly posted pictures of debris that shows something resembling a section of a missile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image of debris was reportedly taken from in front of a house in Iraq's Parand city, close to Tehran where the Ukrainian airplane crashed at the primary airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the theory of a missile shooting down the Ukrainian Boeing 737 could be a far-fetched one with Ukrainian and Iranian authorities blaming the crash on technical shortcomings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ukranian International Airlines" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a099c67-3845-4015-9344-1b38385d77c0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2814%29_3.jpg" /></p>

<p>The Ukrainian embassy to Iran on Wednesday said that engine failure caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, rather than a missile attack or act of terrorism, news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>In an official statement, the Ukraine International Airline said that the Boeing 737 was built in the year 2016 and had undergone a maintenance check only <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crashed-boeing-underwent-maintenance-checks-2-days-before-accident-ukraine-airline-273006">two days before the crash took place</a>.</p>

<p>"The plane was manufactured in 2016, it was received by the airline directly from the (Boeing) factory. The plane underwent its last planned technical maintenance on January 6, 2020," the airlines said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-boeing-737-airliner-turned-was-headed-to-airport-when-it-crashed-iran-civil-aviation-authority-273145">Ukrainian Boeing 737 airliner turned, was headed to airport when it crashed</a></strong></p>

<p>Ukraine confirmed that all passengers and crew on flight PS752 of Ukraine International Airline were killed in the crash - a total of around 170 people with around 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, three Britons and 9 crew members.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="​​​​​​​​" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="090af0c9-1618-435c-812d-7d109afb8a4f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2813%29_3.jpg" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will surely find out the truth. For this purpose, a thorough and independent investigation will be conducted in accordance with international law," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said calling for a thorough probe into the mishap.</p>

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<p>The plane took from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport and disappeared from radars just a few minutes later, crashing in Tehran province.</p>

<p>Iranian authorities claim that the plane had caught fire due to some technical snag in the engine and was already on fire before it came crashing down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran's civil aviation investigators said that the plane tried heading back to the airport on detecting the problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ukranian International Airlines" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="644f1df4-1475-4bf9-a70f-ba9f6d3365bc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2816%29_3.jpg" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The plane, which was 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," the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation said. As per reports, the pilot of the plane did not make a radio call for help.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran said it had recovered the plane's black boxes without commenting on what it plans to do with it. Tehran has refused to hand over the boxes to Boeing and US authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukraine International Airlines, in the meanwhile, announced the suspension of all operations to Tehran until further notice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also called for a &nbsp;probe into the crash while demanding Ottawa's involvement in the investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Unverified pictures of a missile-looking structure shared online by Iranian accounts have fanned speculations around the Ukrainian airplane crash. The images suggest the existence of a missile attack on the Ukranian International Airlines airplane that crashed on Wednesday in Iran.

Unverified pictures of a missile-looking structure shared online by Iranian accounts have fanned speculations around the Ukrainian airplane crash. The images suggest the existence of a missile attack on the Ukranian International Airlines airplane that crashed on Wednesday in Iran. According to reports, some Iranian users have reportedly posted pictures of debris that shows something resembling a section of a missile. The image of debris was reportedly taken from in front of a house in Iraq's Parand city, close to Tehran where the Ukrainian airplane crashed at the primary airport. However, the theory of a missile shooting down the Ukrainian Boeing 737 could be a far-fetched one with Ukrainian and Iranian authorities blaming the crash on technical shortcomings. The Ukrainian embassy to Iran on Wednesday said that engine failure caused the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, rather than a missile attack or act of terrorism, news agency Reuters reported. In an official statement, the Ukraine International Airline said that the Boeing 737 was built in the year 2016 and had undergone a maintenance check only two days before the crash took place. "The plane was manufactured in 2016, it was received by the airline directly from the (Boeing) factory. The plane underwent its last planned technical maintenance on January 6, 2020," the airlines said. Also read: Ukrainian Boeing 737 airliner turned, was headed to airport when it crashed Ukraine confirmed that all passengers and crew on flight PS752 of Ukraine International Airline were killed in the crash - a total of around 170 people with around 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, three Britons and 9 crew members. "We will surely find out the truth. For this purpose, a thorough and independent investigation will be conducted in accordance with international law," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said calling for a thorough probe into the mishap. × The plane took from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport and disappeared from radars just a few minutes later, crashing in Tehran province. Iranian authorities claim that the plane had caught fire due to some technical snag in the engine and was already on fire before it came crashing down. Meanwhile, Iran's civil aviation investigators said that the plane tried heading back to the airport on detecting the problem. "The plane, which was 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," the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation said. As per reports, the pilot of the plane did not make a radio call for help. Iran said it had recovered the plane's black boxes without commenting on what it plans to do with it. Tehran has refused to hand over the boxes to Boeing and US authorities. Ukraine International Airlines, in the meanwhile, announced the suspension of all operations to Tehran until further notice. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also called for a probe into the crash while demanding Ottawa's involvement in the investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

Western intel agencies, Iran and Ukraine dismiss theory of missile downing Ukrainian plane

<p>The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that it has advised all Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to government sources, Indian airlines have been told to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf region due to the escalating tension in the said areas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq," MEA said as reported by news agency ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq," it stated.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">MEA: Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq <a href="https://t.co/Ol0SxgWnQC">https://t.co/Ol0SxgWnQC</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1214769223903301632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Singapore Airlines has also issued a statement communicating that all its flights to and from Europe will not fly over the Iranian airspace in the view of the latest developments in the region. The United States has also restricted all its civilian carriers from flying over the Gulf airspace.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran on Wednesday fired over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-fires-missiles-at-us-bases-in-iraq-272811">a dozen ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq</a>&nbsp;in retaliation to the US strikes at Baghdad International Airport that killed Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani on January 3.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Directorate General of Civil Aviation: We had held meetings with the concerned Airlines and have sensitized them to remain vigilant and take all precautions <a href="https://t.co/8g91GFYBI8">https://t.co/8g91GFYBI8</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1214775291710558208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said that Tehran does not seek escalation or war but will defend itself against any form of aggression.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defence&nbsp;under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens &amp; senior officials were launched," Zarif said today.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-all-passengers-aboard-ukrainian-airplane-killed-in-crash-272841">Ukranian airplane - a Boeing 737 plane</a>, today crashed near Tehran's primary airport shortly after taking off for Kiev.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The plane, which belonged to Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after taking off Iran's capital city's Imam Khomeini airport due to some technical snag. All passengers on board, as many as 170, have been killed in the air crash. &nbsp;<br />
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The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that it has advised all Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notice. According to government sources, Indian airlines have been told to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf region due to the escalating tension in the said areas.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that it has advised all Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notice. According to government sources, Indian airlines have been told to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf region due to the escalating tension in the said areas. "Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq," MEA said as reported by news agency ANI. "Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq," it stated. MEA: Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq https://t.co/Ol0SxgWnQC — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020 × Singapore Airlines has also issued a statement communicating that all its flights to and from Europe will not fly over the Iranian airspace in the view of the latest developments in the region. The United States has also restricted all its civilian carriers from flying over the Gulf airspace. Iran on Wednesday fired over a dozen ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq in retaliation to the US strikes at Baghdad International Airport that killed Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani on January 3. Directorate General of Civil Aviation: We had held meetings with the concerned Airlines and have sensitized them to remain vigilant and take all precautions https://t.co/8g91GFYBI8 — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020 × Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said that Tehran does not seek escalation or war but will defend itself against any form of aggression. "Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defence under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched," Zarif said today. Meanwhile, a Ukranian airplane - a Boeing 737 plane, today crashed near Tehran's primary airport shortly after taking off for Kiev. The plane, which belonged to Ukraine International Airlines, crashed shortly after taking off Iran's capital city's Imam Khomeini airport due to some technical snag. All passengers on board, as many as 170, have been killed in the air crash.

Amid escalating tension, Indian air carriers told to avoid airspace of Iran, Iran and Gulf region