Iran: We Unintentionally Shot Down the Ukrainian Plane

Iran has reversed its statement that ‘a mechanical failure’ was to blame for Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crashing shortly after taking-off the early morning of January 8.

On the evening of January 10, Iran’s military announced that they had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, blaming human error because the plane took ‘an unexpected turn’ toward a military base.

“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,” tweeted Hassan Rouhani, the President of the Iranian Republic.

“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,” President Rouhani added to his tweet minutes later.

The Ukrainian plane carrying 176 people crashed on January 8, the same day Iranian missiles attacked the American bases in Iraq. Ever since the tragedy took place, Iran insisted that the ‘mechanical issues’ were to blame. International society found the claim reasonable at first, even the Ukrainian side ruled out the terror attack.

By Friday, January 10 American and allied intelligence assessments had concluded that Iranian missiles brought down the plane by accident, American media writing about it, waiting for Iranian officials to take responsibility for it.


By Nini Dakhundaridze

Image source: The New York Times