Why would a virtually new Boeing 737 passenger plane crash just two minutes after it took off from the Iranian Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran? The plane did not make contact with the airport controllers or try to return to the airport. The initial Iranian expert report indicated the crash came shortly after the Iranians launched missiles at Anerican troops.
According to NBC News:
‘The jet crash came within hours after Iran fired missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces on Wednesday at 1:20 a.m. local time. The missile strikes were Iran’s retaliation against the U.S. for the drone attack on Jan. 3 that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. American authorities later reported there were no casualties from the Iranian attack on the air bases.’
President Donald Trump, when asked Thursday for his thoughts on what happened to the jet, said,
‘Well, I have my suspicions. It’s a tragic thing. Because somebody could’ve made a mistake on the other side. … It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood, and somebody could, could’ve made a mistake.’
Experts suggested that a surface-to-air missile, one or more, mistook the passenger plane with an American military plane. Investigators from Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization have offered no immediate explanation for the disaster.
U.S. intelligence officials have suggested the plane showed signs of puncture from the outside. American experts believe that this was a tragic mistake or accident caused by the fog of war. No one has said anything about the Iranians purposefully shooting the plane down.
One-hundred and sixty-seven passengers and nine crew perished in the crash. They included people from these countries, according to NBC News:
’82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials.’
Officials believed that most of the passengers were international high-level engineering students studying in Canada. They were on their way to Toronto after they spent the winter break with their families. NBC reported:
‘The flight also included a family of four and newlyweds. The passenger list included several teenagers and children, some as young as 1 or 2.’
Some students captured the crash on camera. Others witnessed a plane bursting into flames and falling from the sky in a massive explosion. Experts say that the explosion occurred because the plane was full of fuel after take-off.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the victim’s families:
‘Know that all Canadians are grieving with you.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he intends to call the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the crash and the ensuing investigation. He added that there will be an Iranian Civil Aviation Agency committee to investigate the crash:
‘Undoubtedly, the priority for Ukraine is to identify the causes of the plane crash. We will surely find out the truth. I call on the international community, including Canada, to join the investigation.’
The Iranians said that they will cooperate with Canadians even though they do not have international relations. Britain also offered to send their top investigators to the crash site. Russian rocket pieces were seen on the ground. The Iranians buy much of their firepower from Russians.
Both communication black boxes were recovered, but the report indicated they were damaged in the incident.
Ukraine declared January 9 a national day of mourning.
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
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