Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|Civilian passenger aircraft shot down by Iran in 2020}} {{Use Canadian English|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox aircraft occurrence | name = Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 | image = UR-PSR (B738) at Ben Gurion Airport.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | alt = | caption = UR-PSR, the aircraft involved in the incident, pictured in October 2019 | occurrence_type = Shootdown | date = {{Start date|2020|01|08|df=y}} | summary = Struck by two surface-to-air missiles ([[Tor missile system|Tor M-1]]) fired by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]]<ref name="bbctor">{{cite news |title=Iran plane crash: Tor-M1 missiles fired at Ukraine jet |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51189779 |work=BBC News|date=21 January 2020}}</ref> | site = [[Shahriar County]], Near [[Imam Khomeini International Airport]], [[Tehran]], Iran<ref name="ASN" /> | coordinates = {{coord|35|33|40|N|51|06|14|E|type:event_region:IR-07|display=it}} | aircraft_type = [[Boeing 737-800]] | aircraft_name = | operator = [[Ukraine International Airlines]] | IATA = PS752 | ICAO = AUI752 | callsign = UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL 752 | tail_number = UR-PSR | origin = [[Imam Khomeini International Airport]], Tehran, Iran | stopover = | stopover0 = | last_stopover = | destination = [[Boryspil International Airport]], Kyiv, Ukraine | occupants = 176 | passengers = 167 | crew = 9 | fatalities = 176<ref name="crash" /> | injuries = | missing = | survivors = 0 }} '''Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752''' ('''PS752/AUI752''') was a scheduled international civilian passenger flight from [[Imam Khomeini International Airport|Tehran]] to [[Boryspil International Airport|Kyiv]], operated by [[Ukraine International Airlines]]. On 8{{nbsp}}January 2020, the [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]] flying the route was shot down by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (IRGC) shortly after takeoff,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/world/middleeast/missile-iran-plane-crash.html|title=Iran Says It Unintentionally Shot Down Ukrainian Airliner|date=10 January 2020|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url-status=live|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111072451/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/world/middleeast/missile-iran-plane-crash.html|archive-date=11 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="reuters-7-jan2">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/ukrainian-airplane-with-180-aboard-crashes-in-iran-fars-idUSKBN1Z70EL|title=Ukrainian airplane with 180 aboard crashes in Iran: Fars|date=8 January 2020|publisher=Reuters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108035747/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash/ukrainian-airplane-with-180-aboard-crashes-in-iran-fars-idUSKBN1Z70EL|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="aj-8-jan2">{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ukrainian-airliner-crashes-tehran-iranian-media-200108032720868.html|title=Ukrainian airliner crashes near Tehran: Iranian media|date=8 January 2020|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108034517/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ukrainian-airliner-crashes-tehran-iranian-media-200108032720868.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> killing all 176 occupants on board. Missiles were fired at the aircraft by the IRGC amidst heightened tensions between [[Iran]] and the [[United States]]. The incident occurred five days after the United States carried out the [[assassination of Qasem Soleimani]] and some hours after Iran retaliated with [[Operation Martyr Soleimani]], in which the IRGC fired dozens of [[ballistic missile]]s on American-led coalition forces; both the assassination and the missile strikes took place in [[Iraq]].<ref name="IFP">{{cite web|date=11 January 2020|title=IRGC Releases Details of Accidental Downing of Ukrainian Plane|url=https://ifpnews.com/irgc-releases-details-of-accidental-downing-of-ukrainian-plane|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111152957/https://ifpnews.com/irgc-releases-details-of-accidental-downing-of-ukrainian-plane|archive-date=11 January 2020|access-date=11 January 2020|website=Iran Front Page|language=En}}</ref> Iranian authorities initially denied having any responsibility for the aircraft's destruction, but investigations by various intelligence agencies from the [[Western world]] as well as by the Iranian public later revealed that it had been struck by two [[surface-to-air missile]]s. On 11 January 2020, the [[Government of Iran]] admitted that the [[IRGC]] had targeted Flight 752 after mistakenly identifying it as an American [[cruise missile]].<ref name="BBC_Demands">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51077788|title=Demands for justice after Iran's plane admission|date=11 January 2020|access-date=12 January 2020|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111234603/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51077788|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The announcement triggered [[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 protests|another wave of Iranian anti-government protests]] (part of the larger [[2019–2020 Iranian protests]]), calling for the removal of Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/iran-protesters-khamenei-resignation-ukraine-plane-crash-e96337fc-601d-45de-90ea-77c9628608c0.html|title=Iranian protesters call for Khamenei's resignation over plane crash|date=January 13, 2020|newspaper=Axios}}</ref> ==Background== The disaster occurred amid a heightened political crisis in the Persian Gulf, four hours after the Iranian military [[Operation Martyr Soleimani|launched retaliatory ballistic missile strikes]] towards U.S. military airbases in Iraq in response to the [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani]] by the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |last=Macias |first=Amanda |last2=Pramuk |first2=Jacob |last3=Bhattacharjee |first3=Riya |date=7 January 2020 |title=Iran fires missiles at multiple bases housing US troops in Iraq |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/07/iran-state-tv-says-tehran-has-launched-missiles-at-iraqs-air-base-housing-us-troops.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108234232/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/07/iran-state-tv-says-tehran-has-launched-missiles-at-iraqs-air-base-housing-us-troops.html |archive-date=8 January 2020 |access-date=9 January 2020 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> The U.S. previously [[United States threat for destruction of Iranian cultural sites|threatened]] Iran and was initially expected to retaliate for the Iranian attack.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/06/suleimani-killing-donald-trump-defends-threat-to-hit-cultural-sites-in-iran|title=Trump defends 'war crime' threat to target cultural sites in Iran|last=Smith|first=David|date=6 January 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2020 |title=Trump: New sanctions on Iran but U.S. "ready to embrace peace" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-fires-missiles-at-military-bases-iraq-used-by-us-coalition-troops-today-live-updates-2020-01-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109004754/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-fires-missiles-at-military-bases-iraq-used-by-us-coalition-troops-today-live-updates-2020-01-08/ |archive-date=2020-01-09 |website=CBS News}}</ref> Iran was on the highest state of defensive alert and, according to Commander of the [[Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Aerospace Force]] of the IRGC [[Amir Ali Hajizadeh]], was "totally prepared for a full-fledged war".<ref name="IFP" /> In response to the Iranian missile attack, the U.S. [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA), in a notice to airmen ([[NOTAM]]), banned all American [[civil aircraft]] from flying over Iran, Iraq, the [[Gulf of Oman]] and the Persian Gulf.<ref name="Flight136038">{{cite web|last=Kaminski-Morrow|first=Davin|title=US bans Iranian and Iraqi overflights citing risk to aircraft|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/us-bans-iranian-and-iraqi-overflights-citing-risk-to-aircraft/136038.article|access-date=8 January 2020|publisher=Flight Global}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|title=FAA bans US airlines flying over Iraq, Iran and Gulf after missile attacks|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3045116/faa-bans-us-airlines-flying-over-iraq-iran-and-gulf-after|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108191300/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3045116/faa-bans-us-airlines-flying-over-iraq-iran-and-gulf-after|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> Although the FAA NOTAMs are not binding on non-U.S. airlines, many airlines take them into consideration when making safety decisions, especially after the downing of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]] in 2014.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Hatch|first=Patrick|date=8 January 2020|title=Qantas to divert some flights after Iran missile attack|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/qantas-to-divert-some-flights-after-iran-missile-attack-20200108-p53puj.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108210501/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/qantas-to-divert-some-flights-after-iran-missile-attack-20200108-p53puj.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airlines re-route flights away from Iraq, Iran airspace after missile attack on U.S. troops|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/airlines-re-route-flights-away-from-iraq-iran-airspace-after-missile-attack-on-us-troops-1.1578466359492|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109042522/https://gulfnews.com/world/airlines-re-route-flights-away-from-iraq-iran-airspace-after-missile-attack-on-us-troops-1.1578466359492|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|website=gulfnews.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name="businesstimes.com.sg">{{cite web|date=9 January 2020|title=Major airlines re-route flights away from Iraq, Iran airspace|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/transport/major-airlines-re-route-flights-away-from-iraq-iran-airspace|access-date=9 January 2020|website=The Business Times|language=en}}</ref> Several airlines, including [[Austrian Airlines]],<ref name=":3" /> [[Singapore Airlines]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore Airlines diverts all flights away from Iranian airspace after missile attack|url=https://www.todayonline.com/world/singapore-airlines-diverts-all-flights-away-iran-after-missile-attack|access-date=9 January 2020|website=TODAYonline|archive-date=13 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313014733/https://www.todayonline.com/world/singapore-airlines-diverts-all-flights-away-iran-after-missile-attack|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[KLM]],<ref>{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|title=KLM stops flying over Iran and Iraq|url=https://nltimes.nl/2020/01/08/klm-stops-flying-iran-iraq|access-date=9 January 2020|website=NL Times|language=en}}</ref> [[Air France]],<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|title=Airlines avoiding flying through Iran and Iraq airspace|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200108-airlines-avoiding-flying-through-iran-and-iraq-airspace|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164515/https://www.france24.com/en/20200108-airlines-avoiding-flying-through-iran-and-iraq-airspace|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref> [[Air India]],<ref name=":4" /> [[SriLankan Airlines]],<ref>{{cite web|title=SriLankan reroutes Colombo-London flights to avoid Iran, Iraq airspace|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/60096/srilankan-reroutes-colombo-london-flights-to-avoid-iran-iraq-airspace|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111032933/http://www.adaderana.lk/news/60096/srilankan-reroutes-colombo-london-flights-to-avoid-iran-iraq-airspace|archive-date=11 January 2020|access-date=11 January 2020|website=AdaDerana}}</ref> [[Qantas]]<ref name=":1" /> and [[Vietnam Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Vietnam Airlines Reroutes Flights Amid Middle East Unrest|url=http://spirit.vietnamairlines.com/vi/tintuc/press-117/vietnam-airlines-reroutes-flights-amid-middle-east-unrest-5667.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115094609/http://spirit.vietnamairlines.com/vi/tintuc/press-117/vietnam-airlines-reroutes-flights-amid-middle-east-unrest-5667.html|archive-date=15 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020|website=spirit.vietnamairlines.com}}</ref> began to reroute their flights. Other airlines, such as [[Lufthansa]], [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]], [[Flydubai]], and [[Turkish Airlines]] cancelled some flights to airports in Iran and Iraq, making further operational changes as necessary.<ref name="businesstimes.com.sg" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=8 January 2020|title=Lufthansa cancels daily flight between Frankfurt and Tehran|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-lufthansa-idUSKBN1Z7184|url-status=live|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108145329/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-lufthansa-idUSKBN1Z7184|archive-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airlines re-route or cancel flights around Iraq, Iran after missile strike on U.S. troops|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/airlines-re-route-or-cancel-flights-around-iraq-iran-after-n1112241|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108233946/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/airlines-re-route-or-cancel-flights-around-iraq-iran-after-n1112241|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|title=THY, Irak ve İran'a yaptığı seferleri geçici olarak durdurdu|url=https://tr.euronews.com/2020/01/08/thy-irak-ve-iran-a-yaptigi-seferleri-gecici-olarak-durdurdu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111155702/https://tr.euronews.com/2020/01/08/thy-irak-ve-iran-a-yaptigi-seferleri-gecici-olarak-durdurdu|archive-date=11 January 2020|access-date=11 January 2020|website=Euronews|language=tr}}</ref> == Aircraft == The aircraft was a [[Boeing 737-800|Boeing 737-8KV]],{{efn|The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800 model; at the time the aircraft was built, Boeing assigned a unique code for each company that bought one of its aircraft, which was applied as a suffix to the model number at the time the aircraft was built. Ukrainian International Airlines' code was "KV", hence "737-8KV" (see [[List of Boeing customer codes]]).}} [[manufacturer's serial number|serial number]] 38124, [[Aircraft registration|registration]] UR-PSR. It was three-and-a-half years old when it was shot down, having [[Maiden flight|first flown]] on 21 June 2016.<ref name="ASN">{{cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=UR-PSR Accident description |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200108-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164645/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200108-0 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |access-date=8 January 2020 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=[[Flight Safety Foundation]]}}</ref> It was delivered to UIA on 19 July 2016, the first [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|737 Next Generation]] aircraft purchased by the airline. The aircraft was well maintained, with the airline saying it had been inspected just two days before the crash.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-ukraine-flight-752-crash-initial-report-fire-return-airport-2020-1|title=Ukrainian Flight 752 was on fire and seemed to be turning back before it crashed in Iran and killed 176 people, the first report into the disaster said|last=Baker|first=Sinéad|date=9 January 2020|website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Report_1399-12-27.pdf |url=https://reports.aviation-safety.net/2020/20200108-0_B738_UR-PSR.pdf |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref> == Flight and crash == {{Location map|Iran|width=200|float=left|caption=Approximate location of the crash site|label=Crash site|lat_deg=|lon_deg=|lat=35.561558|long=51.104095}} [[File:Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 flight path.svg|thumb|right|Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 flight path {{maplink|from= Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 flight path.map|text=Detailed map}}]] [[File:Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 speed and altitude.svg|thumb|right|Speed and altitude of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] The flight was operated by Ukraine International Airlines, [[flag carrier]] and largest airline of Ukraine, on a scheduled flight from Iranian capital [[Tehran]]'s [[Imam Khomeini International Airport]] to [[Boryspil International Airport]] in the Ukrainian capital, [[Kyiv]]. The aircraft was carrying 176 people, including 9 crew members and 15 children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/154306/Ukrainian-airplane-with-over-170-aboard-crashes-in-Iran-no-survivors|title=Ukrainian airplane with over 170 aboard crashes in Iran; no survivors|date=8 January 2020|work=Mehr News|access-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108080238/https://en.mehrnews.com/news/154306/Ukrainian-airplane-with-over-170-aboard-crashes-in-Iran-no-survivors|archive-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> Flight 752 took off from Runway 29R an hour behind schedule, at 06:12:08 local time ([[UTC+3:30]]), and was expected to land in Kyiv at 08:00 local time ([[UTC+2:00]]).<ref>{{Cite news|author=Safi, Michael|title=Iran plane crash: Ukraine Boeing with more than 160 onboard comes down near Tehran|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/08/iran-plane-crash-ukraine-boeing-180-tehran|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108043041/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/08/iran-plane-crash-ukraine-boeing-180-tehran|archive-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="crash">{{Cite news|title=Ukrainian Boeing plane crashes in Iran, 176 people dead|url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108104442/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|date=8 January 2020}}</ref> Between 06:14:17 and 06:14:45 the airplane turned from the take-off heading of 289° to heading 313°, following its regular route.<ref name="FR24" /><ref name="NYTimes14Jan2020">{{cite news|last1=Browne|first1=Malachy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/iran-plane-crash-video.html|title=New Video Shows Two Iranian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane|date=14 January 2020|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=18 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118211327/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/iran-plane-crash-video.html|archive-date=18 January 2020|last2=Hill|first2=Evan|issn=0362-4331|last3=Mitchell|first3=Logan|last4=Marcolini|first4=Barbara}}</ref> According to the data, the last recorded altitude of the aircraft was {{convert|7,925|ft|m|disp=flip}} above [[Mean sea-level|mean sea level]] with a ground speed of {{convert|275|kn|kph mph|abbr=}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-08/boeing-737-carrying-180-people-crashes-in-iran-state-media-says|title=Boeing 737 Bound for Ukraine Crashes in Iran; No Survivors|date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108045036/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-08/boeing-737-carrying-180-people-crashes-in-iran-state-media-says|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> The airport is {{convert|3305|ft|m|disp=flip}} above mean sea level and the terrain around Parand and the crash site lies approximately {{convert|125|m|ft}} higher at {{convert|1,134|m|ft}}. The flight was climbing at just under {{convert|3000|ft/min|m/s|order=flip}} when the flight data recorder abruptly ended over the open ground near the northern end of Enqelab Eslami Boulevard in [[Parand]].<ref name="FR24" /> Analysis of several videos by ''[[The New York Times]]'' showed that the aircraft was hit almost immediately after departure by the first of two short-range missiles (which knocked out its transponder) launched 30 seconds apart by the IRGC, and with the aircraft having maintained its track, by the second missile 23 seconds later, after which it veered right and could be seen on fire before disappearing from view.<ref name="NYTimes14Jan2020" /> Ukrainian investigators believed the pilots were killed instantly by shrapnel from the missile which exploded near the cockpit.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Chris|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-investigators-knew-within-hours-missile-ps752-1.5423957|title=Ukrainian investigators say they knew 'within hours' a missile had downed PS752|date=12 January 2020|work=CBC News|access-date=22 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119151759/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-investigators-knew-within-hours-missile-ps752-1.5423957|archive-date=19 January 2020}}</ref> However, an analysis of the cockpit voice recorder indicated that for at least 19 seconds after the first missile strike, all three cockpit crew members continued to attempt to fly the aircraft, and there was no indication of injury or adverse health effects during that time.<ref name="CAOIRI recorders report">{{Cite report|url=https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/aviation/2020/a20f0002/report/CAOIRI-recorders-20200823.pdf|title=Flight PS752 Flight Recorder Read-out Report|date=23 August 2020|publisher=The Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran|access-date=14 November 2020}}</ref> The final [[Automatic dependent surveillance—broadcast|ADS-B]] data received was at 06:14:57, less than three minutes after departure,<ref name="FR24">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/ukrainian-flight-ps752-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-from-tehran/|title=Ukrainian flight PS752 crashes shortly after take off from Tehran|date=8 January 2020|website=Flightradar24 Blog|language=en-US|access-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116001756/https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/ukrainian-flight-ps752-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-from-tehran/|archive-date=16 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> after which the aircraft's track was recorded by primary radar only.<ref name="caoi_factual">{{Cite report|url=https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eWErSzVqQlh5OTV1bWFnc1JRd0JpWGdQd21LM04rWGNldApTbnM2UGZXcGl3PT0=.pdf|title=CAOI Factual Report|last=|first=|date=11 July 2020|issue=|doi=|volume=|pmid=|access-date=|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116131846/https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eWErSzVqQlh5OTV1bWFnc1JRd0JpWGdQd21LM04rWGNldApTbnM2UGZXcGl3PT0=.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|9}} Its last seconds were captured in several video recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n-9iSdmuSA|title=Video purports to show moment Ukrainian passenger plane plummets near Tehran|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MohammadAtshani/status/1215514203966136321|title=این فیلم از لحظه حادثه #پرواز۷۵۲ هواپیمایی #اوکراین رو یکی از بستگان در راه برگشت از فرودگاه امام گرفته. کاملاً مشخصه هواپیما چند دقیقه در آسمان دچار آتش‌سوزی بوده. مگر برخورد موشک هواپیما رو در دم منفجر و متلاشی نمی‌کنه؟|last=Atshani|first=Mohammad|date=2020-01-09|website=@MohammadAtshani|language=fa|trans-title=The film captures one of the relatives on the way back from Imam Airport at the moment of the #Urgan flight #Ukraine. Quite a few minutes in the sky the plane was on fire. Doesn't the missile strike the plane in the tail and detonate it?|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114074920/https://twitter.com/MohammadAtshani/status/1215514203966136321|archive-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/intel_radar24/status/1215424311449833473|title=A new video released for the Ukrainian airplane. #PS752pic.twitter.com/FyqCBAYPBF|last=Intel_Radar|date=2020-01-09|website=@intel_radar24|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111004020/https://twitter.com/intel_radar24/status/1215424311449833473|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The aircraft crashed in a park and fields on the edge of the village of [[Khalajabad, Tehran|Khalajabad]], {{Convert|15|km|mi nmi|abbr=}} north-west of the airport,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6121252316001|title=World leaders claim Iran caused airplane crash, killing 176|website=Sky News Australia|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112114622/https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6121252316001|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and about {{Convert|10|mi|km|order=flip}} ENE of the last missile strike, about six minutes after takeoff.<!--at 02:48:23 UTC--><ref name="NYTimes14Jan2020" /><ref name=caoi_factual />{{rp|9}} There were no casualties on the ground. Shortly after the crash, emergency responders arrived in 22 ambulances, 4 bus ambulances, and a helicopter, but intense fires prevented a rescue attempt. The wreckage was strewn over a wide area, with no survivors found at the crash site.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gelles|first1=David|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/world/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-boeing-ukraine.html|title=Little Clarity, Many Theories in Ukraine Airline Crash in Iran|date=7 January 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=9 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109000843/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/world/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-boeing-ukraine.html|archive-date=9 January 2020|last2=Troianovski|first2=Anton|issn=0362-4331|last3=Victor|first3=Daniel}}</ref> The aircraft was completely destroyed on impact.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ukrainian-plane-with-180-on-board-crashes-after-take-off-from-iran-airport-news-agency-reuters-quoti-2160449|title=All 170 On Board Ukrainian Plane That Crashed In Iran Killed: Report|website=NDTV|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108053558/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ukrainian-plane-with-180-on-board-crashes-after-take-off-from-iran-airport-news-agency-reuters-quoti-2160449|archive-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> All 176 passengers and crew were killed.<ref name="Telegraph">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/08/iran-plane-crash-170-passengers-feared-dead-ukraine-boeing-737/|title=Iran plane crash: All 176 passengers killed as Ukraine Boeing 737 crashes near Tehran|last1=Oliphant|first1=Roland|date=8 January 2020|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108054218/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/08/iran-plane-crash-170-passengers-feared-dead-ukraine-boeing-737/|archive-date=8 January 2020|last2=Mendick|first2=Robert|last3=Nicholls|first3=Dominic}}</ref> It is the deadliest flight in terms of fatalities involving the Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet, and the second deadliest of the entire [[Boeing 737]] family behind [[Lion Air Flight 610]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=Aviation Safety Network > ASN Aviation Safety Database > ASN Aviation Safety Database results|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?sorteer=casualties,datekey&kind=%25&cat=%25&page=1&field=typecode&var=103%25|access-date=2022-01-31|website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> == Passengers and crew == {| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; float:right; font-size:85%;" |+People on board, based on Ukrainian official list<ref name="cnncrash">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/middleeast/plane-crash-iran-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Ukrainian Airlines plane crashes in Tehran shortly after takeoff|last1=Moshtaghian|first1=Artemis|work=CNN|access-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108044020/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/middleeast/plane-crash-iran-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|last2=Berlinger|first2=Joshua}}</ref>{{efn|The list is based on Ukrainian sources, with notes indicating confirmed deviations.}} |- !Nation||data-sort-type="number"|Number |- |Iran{{efn|According to Iranian officials, 146 passengers used an Iranian passport to leave Iran; some victims from Canada were Canadian-Iranian citizens.}}|| style="text-align:center;"|82 |- |Canada{{efn|Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister said "the number of Canadian citizens believed to have been aboard the airplane is 57—not 63 as initially provided by Ukrainian authorities."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/cp-newsalert-iran-state-tv-says-ukrainian-jet-was-unintentionally-shot-down|title='Our profound regrets': Iran state TV says Ukrainian jet was 'unintentionally' shot down &#124; National Post|newspaper=National Post|date=11 January 2020}}</ref> There is no corresponding source about the six people said not to be Canadian, so the table cannot be changed, as the total would not add up.}} || style="text-align:center;"|63 |- |Ukraine{{efn|Two passengers and nine crew members<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name=nvua/>}}|| style="text-align:center;"|11 |- |Sweden{{efn|According to the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, seven Swedish citizens died on the flight.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-sweden/sweden-halts-iran-air-flights-between-stockholm-and-tehran-idUSKBN1Z91K8|title = Sweden halts Iran Air flights between Stockholm and Tehran|newspaper = Reuters|date = 10 January 2020|access-date = 17 January 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200112035452/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-sweden/sweden-halts-iran-air-flights-between-stockholm-and-tehran-idUSKBN1Z91K8|archive-date = 12 January 2020|url-status = live}}</ref> Some sources, however, mention a total of 17 Swedish passengers, including ten who were living in Sweden and seven who held Swedish passport.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Wb2Glr/barn-bland-de-doda-svenskarna-i-iran|title = Barn bland de döda svenskarna i Iran|newspaper = Aftonbladet |language=sv |date = 9 January 2020|access-date = 2 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-1437922|title = UD bekräftar: 17 personer från Sverige omkom i flygkraschen i Iran|newspaper = YLE |language=sv |date = 10 January 2020|access-date = 2 April 2023 |quote=Av de omkomna hade sju svenskt medborgarskap och tio av dem var folkbokförda i Sverige. }}</ref> }}|| style="text-align:center;"|10 |- |Afghanistan{{efn|The manifest initially released by UIA listed three Germans. These were subsequently identified as Afghans living in Germany as asylum seekers.<ref name=tagesspiegel/> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan)|Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] said 13 Afghan nationals boarded the flight, including six who held dual Afghan-Swedish citizenship.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/persian/afghanistan-51102686|title = هفت تن از قربانیان افغان حادثه هواپیمای اوکراینی شناسایی شدند|work = BBC News فارسی |language=fa |date = 14 January 2020|access-date = 2 April 2023 |quote=وزارت خارجه افغانستان اعلام کرده که از ۱۳ شهروند افغانستان که در هواپیمایی اوکراینی کشته شده‌اند، ۶ شش نفر آنان تابعیت دوگانه افغانستان و سویدن/سوئد را داشتند، سه نفر شهروند افغانستان و آلمان بودند و چهار نفر دیگر نیز تنها شهروند افغانستان بودند. |trans-quote=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has announced that out of 13 Afghan citizens who were killed in the Ukrainian plane, 6 of them had dual citizenship of Afghanistan and Sweden/Sweden, three were citizens of Afghanistan and Germany, and the other four were only citizens of Afghanistan. }}</ref> }}|| style="text-align:center;"|7 |- |United Kingdom{{efn|On 10 January, UK Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] confirmed four Britons died on the flight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-news-latest-ukraine-jet-boeing-737-a9277291.html|title=Western defence officials confident Iran 'shot down Ukraine jet'|date=9 January 2020|website=The Independent|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109200857/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-news-latest-ukraine-jet-boeing-737-a9277291.html|archive-date=9 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It is unknown at present, which country's passport the fourth Briton presented.}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3 |- class="sortbottom" | '''Total''' || style="text-align:center;"|'''176''' |} [[File:Ukraine_International_Airlines_Flight_752_(9).jpg|thumb|Recovery operations, victims of Flight 752]] There were 167 passengers and 9 crew members on the flight.<ref name="ISNA">{{cite web|title=Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran's Imam Khomeini Int'l Airport|url=https://en.isna.ir/news/98101813884/Ukrainian-airplane-crashes-near-Tehran-s-Imam-Khomeini-Int-l|publisher=Iranian Students News Agency|access-date=8 January 2020|date=8 January 2020}}</ref> According to Iranian officials, 146 passengers used [[Iranian passport]]s to leave Iran, 10 used [[Afghan passport]]s, 5 used [[Canadian passport|Canadian ones]], 4 used [[Swedish passport|Swedish ones]], and 2 used [[Ukrainian passport]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Iran-CAO-PS752-Initial-Report.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112032437/https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Iran-CAO-PS752-Initial-Report.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is some disagreement with other sources over this accounting of nationalities, possibly because some passengers were nationals of more than a single country. According to [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ukrainian foreign minister]] [[Vadym Prystaiko]] and a flight manifest released by UIA,<ref name="UIAflight752passengerList">{{cite web |url=https://www.flyuia.com/us/en/news/2020/flight-ps752-passenger-list |title=Flight PS752 Passenger List |work=[[Ukraine International Airlines|UIA]] |date=8 January 2020 |access-date=9 January 2020 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108223139/https://www.flyuia.com/us/en/news/2020/flight-ps752-passenger-list |language=en}}</ref> out of the 167 passengers, 82 were confirmed to be Iranian citizens, 63 were Canadian, 3 were British, 4 were Afghan, 10 were Swedish, and 3 were German. Eleven Ukrainians were also on board, nine of them crew members.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name="nvua">{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|url=https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/politics/tegeran-pristayko-opublikuvav-spisok-zagiblih-v-aviakatastrofi-mau-novini-ukrajini-50062955.html |title=Тегеран: Пристайко опублікував список загиблих в авіакатастрофі МАУ |website=nv.ua|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109191525/https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/politics/tegeran-pristayko-opublikuvav-spisok-zagiblih-v-aviakatastrofi-mau-novini-ukrajini-50062955.html |url-status=live |archive-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> The [[German Foreign Ministry]] denied any Germans were aboard;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2020-01/boeing-absturz-flugzeug-iran-ukraine-teheran-170-tote|title=176 Tote bei Flugzeugabsturz im Iran|website=[[Zeit Online]]|language=de|access-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live|quote=Nach Informationen der Nachrichtenagentur dpa waren drei Menschen an Bord, die in Deutschland als Schutzsuchende registriert waren.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109143616/https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2020-01/boeing-absturz-flugzeug-iran-ukraine-teheran-170-tote|archive-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> the three people in question were Afghan nationals who lived in [[Germany]] as [[asylum seeker]]s.<ref name="tagesspiegel">{{cite web|url=https://www.soester-anzeiger.de/deutschland-welt/flugzeugabsturz-iran-familie-werl-nordrhein-westfalen-unter-opfern-zr-13428970.html|title=Flugzeugabsturz im Iran: Familie aus Nordrhein-Westfalen unter den Opfern|website=soester-anzeiger.de|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=9 January 2020|date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109193213/https://www.soester-anzeiger.de/deutschland-welt/flugzeugabsturz-iran-familie-werl-nordrhein-westfalen-unter-opfern-zr-13428970.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Iranian nationality law]], the [[Iranian government]] considers dual citizens to be solely Iranian citizens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dualcitizenship.com/countries/iran.html |title=Dual Citizenship Iran |publisher=Dualcitizenship.com |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709110941/https://www.dualcitizenship.com/countries/iran.html |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the 167 passengers, 138 were travelling to Canada via Ukraine.<ref name="Global">{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Hannah |title=Iran plane crash: 138 passengers were connecting to Canada, Trudeau says |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6380800/63-canadians-killed-iran-ukrainian-plane-crash/ |access-date=8 January 2020 |work=Global News |date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108145546/https://globalnews.ca/news/6380800/63-canadians-killed-iran-ukrainian-plane-crash/ |archive-date=8 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Iran state TV says Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran|url=https://www.wbal.com/article/429568/130/iran-state-tv-says-ukrainian-airplane-crashes-near-tehran|publisher=WBAL|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-ukraine-air-crash-canadians-tehran-1.5418610|title=63 Canadians among dead after Ukrainian plane crash in Iran, airline says|date=8 January 2020|website=CBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108122253/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-ukraine-air-crash-canadians-tehran-1.5418610|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Many of the [[Iranian Canadians]] were affiliated with [[List of universities in Canada|Canadian universities]], as students or academics who had travelled to Iran during the winter break. The crash was the largest loss of Canadian lives in aviation since the 1985 bombing of [[Air India Flight 182]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadians-plane-crash-iran-1.5419076 |title=Why were so many Canadians on the plane that crashed in Iran? |last=Weikle |first=Brandie |date=8 January 2020 |work=CBC News |access-date=8 January 2020 }}</ref> On January 15, 2020, [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Canadian Transport Minister]] [[Marc Garneau]] said 57 Canadians died in the crash.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6415512/rcmp-identifying-victims-iran-plane-crash/|title=RCMP helping to identify Canadian victims killed in downing of Ukraine Flight 752|date=January 15, 2020|newspaper=[[Global News]]}}</ref> In addition to six flight attendants, the crew consisted of [[Captain (aeronautical)|Captain]] Volodymyr Gaponenko (11,600 hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including 5,500 hours as captain), instructor pilot Oleksiy Naumkin (12,000 hours on Boeing 737s, including 6,600 as captain), and [[First officer (aviation)|first officer]] Serhiy Khomenko (7,600 hours on Boeing 737).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/flyuia.ua/posts/3118910491457829| title=Fly UIA |website= Facebook}}</ref> == Investigation == [[File:Ukraine Air Boeing 737 Crashes in Southern Tehran 2020-01-08 27.jpg|thumb|Impact zone]] The [[Civil Aviation Organization of Iran]] (CAOI) reported shortly after the incident that a team of investigators had been sent to the crash site.<ref name="ISNA" /> On the same day, the Ukrainian government said it would send experts to Tehran to assist with the investigation. President [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] instructed the [[Prosecutor General of Ukraine|Ukrainian General Prosecutor]] to open a criminal investigation into the crash.<ref name="Sputnik">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/ukraine-leader-warns-against-speculation-after-plane-crash/articleshow/73153310.cms|title=Ukraine leader warns against 'speculation' after plane crash|date=8 January 2020|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110072846/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/ukraine-leader-warns-against-speculation-after-plane-crash/articleshow/73153310.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Ukrainian government sent 45 investigators to assist with the inquiry into the shootdown of the airliner.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Chris|date=January 12, 2020|title=Ukrainian investigators say they knew 'within hours' a missile had downed PS752|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-investigators-knew-within-hours-missile-ps752-1.5423957|access-date=2021-01-09}}</ref> [[File:Ukraine_Air_Force_Il-76_with_a_group_of_SAR_and_experts_go_to_Iran.jpg|thumb|A Ukrainian Air Force [[Ilyushin Il-76]] prepares to depart for Iran from the Boryspil International Airport with specialists from the National Bureau of Investigation of Civil Aviation and Incidents with the Civil Aviation Service, State Aviation Service, Ukraine International Airlines and from the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.]] Under standard [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) rules, according to Annex 13 of the [[Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation|Chicago Convention]], the United States [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB) would participate in the investigation, as they represented the state of the manufacturer of the aircraft. France's [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] (BEA) would participate as representatives of the state of manufacture of the aircraft's engines (a U.S.–France joint venture) and Ukraine's [[Ministry of Infrastructure (Ukraine)|Ministry of Infrastructure]] would participate as representatives of the state in which the aircraft was registered. Given that there were tensions between these nations and Iran as part of the 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis, it was not known how these investigative organizations would be involved, although it was reported that Iran had said American, French and Ukrainian authorities would be involved.<ref name="BBC51029994">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51029994|title=Iran plane crash: Ukraine International Airline jet crashes killing 176|date=8 January 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108042255/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51029994|archive-date=8 January 2020|publisher=BBC News Online}}</ref> The head of the commission for accidents in the CAOI said they received no emergency message from the aircraft before the crash.<ref name="fn1">{{cite web|url=https://www.farsnews.ir/news/13981018000131/%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%AF-3%E2%80%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7%E2%80%8C|date=8 January 2020|language=fa|script-title=fa:جزئیات تماس خلبان بوئینگ 737‌ اوکراینی با برج مهرآباد تا پیش از سقوط‌|trans-title=Details of Ukrainian Boeing 737 pilot contact with Mehrabad tower before collapse|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108060110/https://www.farsnews.ir/news/13981018000131/%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%AF-3%E2%80%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7%E2%80%8C|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> It was reported that the aircraft's [[Flight recorder|black boxes]] (the [[cockpit voice recorder]] (CVR) and [[flight data recorder]] (FDR)) had been recovered, but the CAOI said it was not clear to which country the recorders would be sent so the data could be analyzed.<ref name="Sky11903445">{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/airliner-with-180-people-on-board-crashes-after-taking-off-from-tehran-international-airport-11903445|title=Three Britons among 176 killed as plane crashes after takeoff in Tehran|last1=Patel-Carstairs|first1=Sunita|last2=Storr|first2=Kat|publisher=Sky News|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> The association said it would not hand over the black boxes to [[Boeing]] or to U.S. authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51042326|title=Iran plane crash: Tehran won't give Boeing or US black boxes|date=9 January 2020|work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> On 9{{nbsp}}January, the black boxes were reported, by Iranian investigators, to have been damaged and that some parts of their memory may have been lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukrainian-passenger-plane-never-radioed-for-help-before-crash-black-boxes-damaged-iranian-investigators-say|title=Russian missile strike eyed as one of many possible causes that led to plane crash in Iran: Ukraine|last=Stimson|first=Brie|date=9 January 2020|website=foxnews.com|publisher=Fox News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109101652/https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukrainian-passenger-plane-never-radioed-for-help-before-crash-black-boxes-damaged-iranian-investigators-say|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> [[Mary Schiavo]], a former U.S. [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]] inspector general, said no automated distress messages had been sent from the aircraft or by its crew.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/09/ukraine-plane-likely-shot-down-iran-missile-report/4419263002/|title=Iran plane crash: Justin Trudeau says intel shows Ukraine jet downed by Iranian missile|website=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109185336/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/09/ukraine-plane-likely-shot-down-iran-missile-report/4419263002/|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> On 9 January, the [[Swedish Accident Investigation Authority]] and [[Transportation Safety Board of Canada]] (TSB) were officially invited by the investigation team to participate in the probe on the crash.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/index.html|title=Ukrainian Boeing plane crash in Iran, investigators hunt for clues|author=John, Tara|date=9 January 2020|publisher=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109041850/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/index.html|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> The NTSB,<ref name="confidence">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/world/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-ukraine.html?campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20183&user_id=e9848bda5d7546386411f6e2fbdaf95e&regi_id=16153474|title=U.S. Has 'Confidence' Ukrainian Plane Was Shot Down by Iranian Missile|last1=Troianofski|first1=Anton|date=9 January 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=9 January 2020|last2=Kitroeff|first2=Natalie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/h_073822fdd66ea739a4a7d9a7bc3410ef|title=US official: Iranian authorities invite National Transportation Safety Board to join investigation|author1=Tara John|author2=Meg Wagner|date=9 January 2020|work=CNN|author3=Mike Hayes|author4=Fernando Alfonso III|author5=Veronica Rocha|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111214547/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/h_073822fdd66ea739a4a7d9a7bc3410ef|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/h_c938abab618d9f24797bad95f7cc2906|title=Iran: Ukraine and Boeing have been invited to join investigation of Ukrainian Airlines crash|author1=Tara John|author2=Meg Wagner|date=9 January 2020|website=CNN|author3=Mike Hayes|author4=Fernando Alfonso III|author5=Veronica Rocha}}</ref> Ukraine, and Boeing were also invited to participate in the investigation.<ref name=":3" /> Due to [[United States sanctions against Iran|American economic sanctions placed on Iran]], U.S. investigators would need a special licence from the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]] and the [[United States Department of State|State]] Departments to travel there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html|title=January 8 Iran plane crash|date=8 January 2020|website=CNN|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108233803/https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/how-us-sanctions-iran-hamper-boeing-plane-crash-investigation-ukraine-tehran-1481252|title=How U.S. sanctions on Iran could hamper Boeing plane crash investigation|last=Brennan|first=David|date=9 January 2020|website=Newsweek|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109162656/https://www.newsweek.com/how-us-sanctions-iran-hamper-boeing-plane-crash-investigation-ukraine-tehran-1481252|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/us-to-join-probe-of-ukraine-bound-plane-crash-iranian-official-says.html|title=Boeing and US safety board invited to join probe of Ukraine-bound plane crash, Iran officials say|date=9 January 2020|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110044615/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/us-to-join-probe-of-ukraine-bound-plane-crash-iranian-official-says.html|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 January, media reports showed bulldozers being used to clear the crash site. Some aircraft investigation experts expressed concerns about disturbing and damaging the crash site before a thorough investigation could be conducted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-bulldozers-ukrainian-jet-crash-site-complicate-investigation-2020-1|title=Iran is using bulldozers at the Ukrainian plane crash site, which could make it impossible to prove what happened|last=Frias|first=Lauren|website=Business Insider|date=10 January 2020|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110044819/https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-bulldozers-ukrainian-jet-crash-site-complicate-investigation-2020-1|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran denied bulldozing the evidence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/iran-to-canada-if-you-think-we-shot-down-flight-752-prove-it|title=Iran to Canada and allies: If you think we shot down Flight 752, prove it|newspaper=National Post|date=10 January 2020}}</ref> On 10 January, the Iranian government granted Ukrainian investigators permission to investigate the flight recorders and Ukrainian investigators visited the crash site,<ref name="IU634869UIA">{{Cite news|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/634869.html|title=Ukrainian experts being on UIA plane crash site near Tehran do not confirm using of bulldozers|date=10 January 2020|work=[[Interfax-Ukraine]]|access-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110182613/https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/634869.html|archive-date=10 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-black-box-ukraine-access-a9278176.html|title=Ukraine 'granted access' to Iran plane crash black box|last1=Carroll|first1=Oliver|last2=Trew|first2=Bel|date=10 January 2020|website=The Independent|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110212409/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-black-box-ukraine-access-a9278176.html|archive-date=10 January 2020|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> with plans to download the recorders in Tehran.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1Z90RT|title=Iran to analyze black box after missile blamed for crash|last1=Cornwell|first1=Alexander|date=10 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live|last2=Hafezi|first2=Parisa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110122110/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1Z90RT|archive-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> On 14 January, the head of the TSB, [[Kathleen Fox (aviator)|Kathy Fox]], said there were signs that Iran would allow the TSB to participate in the downloading and analysis of data from the airplane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51104687|title=Iran detains suspects over Ukraine plane downing|date=14 January 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live|publisher=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114105829/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51104687|archive-date=14 January 2020}}</ref> On 23 January, the TSB announced that they had been invited by Iran to help with the flight recorders.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/9b32cfa88332ab4df5e08d8d48eff838|title=Canada's TSB says Iran has invited it to examine black boxes|last=Gilles|first=Rob|date=2020-01-23|work=AP NEWS|access-date=2020-01-24|publisher=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124231938/https://apnews.com/9b32cfa88332ab4df5e08d8d48eff838|archive-date=24 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 February, [[UA:First|Ukrainian public TV]] aired a leaked recording of the information exchange between the Iranian pilot of an [[Aseman Airlines]] flight and an Iranian air traffic controller. The pilot stated in [[Persian language|Persian]] that he saw "a series of flares like that of a missile" and later an explosion.<ref name=":6" /><ref name="CAO.IRI final report" /> Following the leak, Zelensky said the new evidence proved Iran was well aware from the very first moments that the Ukraine passenger airplane was brought down by a missile.<ref name=":6">{{cite news|url=https://www.news230.com/2020/02/03/iran-aircraft-pilot-heard-in-leaked-air-visitors-management-audio-speaking-about-missile-hitting-ukraine-passenger-jet-41414/|title=Iran aircraft pilot heard in leaked air visitors management audio speaking about "missile" hitting Ukraine passenger jet|access-date=3 February 2020|website=News 230|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203134640/https://www.news230.com/2020/02/03/iran-aircraft-pilot-heard-in-leaked-air-visitors-management-audio-speaking-about-missile-hitting-ukraine-passenger-jet-41414/|archive-date=3 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The following day Iran ceased co-operation with Ukraine in its investigation into the disaster.<ref name="middle-east-51356626">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51356626|title=Iran plane downing: Tehran ends co-operation with Ukraine|access-date=3 February 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203124913/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51356626|archive-date=3 February 2020|url-status=live}}<br>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/03/iran-knew-from-start-it-had-shot-down-jet-says-ukrainian-president|title=Iran knew from start it had shot down jet, says Ukrainian president|access-date=3 February 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203145312/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/03/iran-knew-from-start-it-had-shot-down-jet-says-ukrainian-president|archive-date=3 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran resumed co-operation on 15 February.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukraine-iran-deciding-where-when-flight-recorders-to-be-decrypted.html|title=Ukraine, Iran deciding where, when flight recorders to be decrypted|date=2020-02-15|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=2020-02-16|publisher=Interfax-Ukraine}}</ref> In the final report about the crash, Iranian authorities gave a more complete transcript of the communication.<ref name="CAO.IRI final report" /> ===Flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder=== On 20 January, Iran asked for assistance from France and the United States to recover the data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newwestrecord.ca/iran-has-asked-for-technical-help-on-black-boxes-in-downed-plane-1.24057009|title=Iran has asked for technical help on black boxes in downed plane|access-date=20 January 2020|website=New West Record|archive-date=21 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121060648/https://www.newwestrecord.ca/iran-has-asked-for-technical-help-on-black-boxes-in-downed-plane-1.24057009|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 5 February, Canada urged Iran to send the recorders to France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kayhanlife.com/news/iran/canada-to-press-iran-to-send-downed-planes-black-boxes-to-france/|title=Canada to Press Iran to Send Downed Plane's Black Boxes to France|access-date=5 February 2020|website=Kayhan Life|date=5 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206085839/https://kayhanlife.com/news/iran/canada-to-press-iran-to-send-downed-planes-black-boxes-to-france/|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran denied the request.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-14|title=Canada's Trudeau Demands From Iran Independent Probe Into Downed Airliner|work=The New York Times|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/14/world/middleeast/14reuters-germany-security-canada-iran.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216233342/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/14/world/middleeast/14reuters-germany-security-canada-iran.html|archive-date=16 February 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On 12 March, Iran agreed to hand over the recorders to Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/iran-agrees-to-transfer-flight-recorders-from-downed-uia-plane-to-ukraine.html|title=Iran agrees to transfer flight recorders from downed UIA plane to Ukraine|date=2020-03-12|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=2020-03-15|publisher=Interfax-Ukraine}}</ref> However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed this action.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Burke|first=Ashley|date=2020-03-11|title=Iran's COVID-19 crisis delaying planned transfer of Flight 752's black boxes to Europe|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-outbreak-black-boxes-flight-ps752-1.5494300|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref name="RF">{{Cite news|date=21 May 2020|title=Evidence from downed Ukrainian flight poses more puzzles about crash|website=Radio Farda|url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/evidence-from-downed-ukrainian-flight-poses-more-puzzles/30625967.html|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref name="obstacles">{{Cite news|last=Blanchfield|first=Mike|date=2020-05-04|title=Iran chief's link to 1988 massacre raises obstacles in crash probe: Cotler|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iran-plane-tehran-investigator-1.5555284|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> During this time, impatience began to mount from Ukraine, Canada, and ICAO.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ukraine at ICAO calls on Iran to immediately hand over flight recorders of downed UIA plane|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3043198-ukraine-at-icao-calls-on-iran-to-immediately-hand-over-flight-recorders-of-downed-uia-plane.html|access-date=2020-06-24|website=www.ukrinform.net|date=11 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> On 11 June, Iran announced that the flight recorders would be sent directly to the [[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]] (BEA) in France.<ref name="RFE/RL">{{Cite news|title=Report: Iran Will Send Flight Recorders From Ukrainian Jet To Paris|work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/report-iran-will-send-flight-recorders-from-ukrainian-jet-to-paris/30664598.html|access-date=2020-06-12}}</ref> Canadian officials urged Iran to complete this action "as soon as possible", citing the previous delays in handing over the recorders.<ref name="Calgary Herald">{{Cite news|title=Canada to Iran: ship flight 752 black boxes to France as soon as possible|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/iran-turns-to-french-experts-to-read-black-boxes-from-flight-752-crash-official|access-date=2020-06-12|work=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA}}</ref> This statement was further reinforced 11 days later, when Iranian foreign minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] commented on this intention during a phone call with Canadian foreign minister [[François-Philippe Champagne]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-22|title=Iran to send black boxes from downed Ukrainian airliner to France|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-france-black-box-idUSKBN23T2C5|access-date=2020-06-24}}</ref> On 20 July, the examination of the recorders started in Paris.<ref name="fpcreject">{{cite news|last1=Blanchfield|first1=Mike|date=20 July 2020|title=Champagne rejects Iran's 'human error' finding as black boxes of Ukrainian airliner downloaded in Paris|publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc|agency=The Canadian Press|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-champagne-rejects-irans-human-error-finding-as-black-boxes-of/}}</ref> === Cause of the crash === [[File:Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (10).jpg|thumb|Wreckage of Flight 752, with part of an engine in the foreground, showing [[Axial compressor#Description|nozzle guide vanes]]]] [[File:Ukraine Air Boeing 737 Crashes in Southern Tehran 2020-01-08 08.jpg|thumb|Wreckage of Flight 752]] On 8 January, Iran's [[Ministry of Roads and Urban Development|Road and Transportation Ministry]] released a statement that the aircraft burst into flames after a fire started in one of its engines, causing the pilot to lose control and crash into the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/ukrainian-boeing-737-crashes-imam-khomeini-airport-state-media/11852504|title=176 people killed in Boeing 737 crash in Iran, state TV reports|date=8 January 2020|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108080122/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/ukrainian-boeing-737-crashes-imam-khomeini-airport-state-media/11852504|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="Sputnik" /> The airline opined that [[pilot error]] was impossible to be cited as the cause of the crash as the pilots had exclusively been trained for the Tehran flights for years, noting that Tehran Airport was "not a simple airport".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/67414762-31d6-11ea-9703-eea0cae3f0de|title=Iran refuses to give Boeing black box from Tehran crash|newspaper=Financial Times|date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108235551/https://www.ft.com/content/67414762-31d6-11ea-9703-eea0cae3f0de|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|last1=Khalaj|first1=Monavar}}</ref> Iranian and Ukrainian government sources initially blamed mechanical issues aboard the aircraft for its crash.<ref name="cnncrash" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51029994|title=Ukrainian plane crashes in Iran killing 176|date=8 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108231141/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51029994|archive-date=8 January 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="WP-crash">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukrainian-passenger-plane-with-180-crashes-in-iran/2020/01/07/7e214eb4-31cc-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html|title=Ukrainian passenger plane with more than 170 onboard crashes in Iran, no survivors|last1=Khurshudyan|first1=Isabelle|date=8 January 2020|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=8 January 2020|last2=Cunningham|first2=Erin}}</ref> The Ukrainian government later retracted its statement and said anything was possible, refusing to rule out that the aircraft was hit by a missile.<ref name="Telegraph-refuse">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/08/iran-plane-crash-170-passengers-feared-dead-ukraine-boeing-737/|title=Iran plane crash: Ukraine refuses to rule out Boeing 737 was shot down by missile near Tehran killing 176|last1=Davies|first1=Gareth|date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108054218/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/08/iran-plane-crash-170-passengers-feared-dead-ukraine-boeing-737/|archive-date=8 January 2020|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|last2=White|first2=Josh}}</ref> Zelensky said there should not be any speculation about the cause of the crash.<ref name="Sputnik" /> On 9 January, U.S. intelligence and defence officials said they believed the aircraft had been shot down by an Iranian [[Tor missile system|Tor missile]] ([[NATO reporting name]] SA-15 "Gauntlet"),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jamali |first1=Naveed |last2=Laporta |first2=James |last3=Da Silva |first3=Chantal |author-link3=Chantal Da Silva |last4=O'Connor |first4=Tom |date=9 January 2020 |title=Iranian Missile System Shot Down Ukraine Flight, Probably By Mistake, Sources Say |url=https://www.newsweek.com/iranians-shot-down-ukraine-flight-mistake-sources-1481313 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109171639/https://www.newsweek.com/iranians-shot-down-ukraine-flight-mistake-sources-1481313 |archive-date=9 January 2020 |access-date=9 January 2020 |website=Newsweek.com |publisher=Newsweek}}</ref> based on evidence from [[reconnaissance satellite]] imagery and radar data.<ref name="cnbc0109">{{cite news|url=http://cnbc.com/2020/01/09/trump-says-he-has-doesnt-believe-the-boeing-plane-crash-in-iran-was-due-to-mechanical-error.html|title=Iran missile shot down Ukraine-bound Boeing airliner, officials say|date=9 January 2020|newspaper=cnbc.com|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113115344/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/trump-says-he-has-doesnt-believe-the-boeing-plane-crash-in-iran-was-due-to-mechanical-error.html|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Ukrainian authorities said a shootdown was one of the "main working theories", while Iranian authorities denied this, stating that allegations of a missile hit were "[[psychological warfare]]".<ref name="BBC510552192">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51055219|title=Iran Plane Crash: Western Powers Suggest Missile Downed Jet|work=BBC News |date=9 January 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109173335/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51055219|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ukraine-iranian-missile-hit-unconfirmed-200110110317509.html|title=Zelenskyy: Claims Iran missile downed Ukraine plane 'unconfirmed'|last=Mirovalev|first=Mansur|date=10 January 2020|newspaper=Al Jazeera|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110122143/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ukraine-iranian-missile-hit-unconfirmed-200110110317509.html|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ind0109">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-news-latest-ukraine-jet-boeing-737-a9277291.html|title=Western defence officials confident Iran 'shot down Ukraine jet'|date=9 January 2020|website=The Independent|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109200857/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-news-latest-ukraine-jet-boeing-737-a9277291.html|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC51055219">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51055219|title=Iran 'mistakenly shot down Ukraine jet'—US media|work=BBC News |date=9 January 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109173335/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51055219|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> British defence officials agreed with the American assessment of a shootdown.<ref name="Ind0109" /> Prime Minister of Canada [[Justin Trudeau]] said evidence from multiple sources, including Canadian intelligence, suggested the aircraft was shot down by an Iranian missile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3a8qvy/justin-trudeau-says-canada-believes-iran-shot-down-ukraine-flight-752|title=Justin Trudeau Says Canada Believes Iran Shot Down Ukraine Flight 752|last=Lamoureux|first=Mack|date=2020-01-09|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> He added that "this may well have been unintentional".<ref name="cnbc0109" /> Iranian media described it as "an American lie", "a wrongful scenario by [[CIA]] and [[United States Department of Defense|the Pentagon]]", and "an attempt to prevent Boeing stock from a free fall".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qudsonline.ir/news/687437/%DA%86%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA|title=چرا رسانه‌های آمریکا باید هواپیماسازی بوئینگ را از ورشکستگی نجات دهند؟|date=9 January 2020|language=fa|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111101454/http://www.qudsonline.ir/news/687437/%DA%86%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/10/19/2178763/%D8%AC%D8%B2%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DA%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C|title=جزییات تسنیم از سناریوی سیا و پنتاگون برای نجات از تحقیر موشکی/دروغ بزرگ آمریکا درباره هواپیمای اوکراینی|date=9 January 2020|language=fa|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111214545/https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/10/19/2178763/%D8%AC%D8%B2%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DA%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 January, the [[Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] admitted they had shot down the airplane, having erroneously identified it as a hostile target.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/iran-admits-shooting-down-ukrainian-airliner-unintentionally "Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian airliner 'unintentionally'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111042802/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/iran-admits-shooting-down-ukrainian-airliner-unintentionally |date=11 January 2020 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 11 January 2020.</ref> According to an early IRGC statement, when the airplane seemed to head toward a "sensitive military centre" of the IRGC, controllers mistook it for a "hostile target" and shot it down.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/iran-says-it-unintentionally-shot-down-ukrainian-airl-1840942174|title=Iran Says It "Unintentionally" Shot Down Ukrainian Airlines Flight [Updated]|website=Gizmodo|date=11 January 2020 |language=en-us|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111101241/https://gizmodo.com/iran-says-it-unintentionally-shot-down-ukrainian-airl-1840942174|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran's Civil Aviation Organization disputed this timeline, arguing that the airplane was on the correct course all the time and there was no proven flight deviation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-flight-path-idUSKBN1ZA0NW|title=Ukrainian passenger plane shot by missile in Iran had not veered off its normal course: statement|date=11 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=11 January 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111173659/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-flight-path-idUSKBN1ZA0NW|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The CAOI's viewpoint was also supported by a Radio Canada International article that used public ADS-B flight tracking data.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/01/13/ps752-how-could-iran-have-made-such-a-terrible-tragic-mistake/ | title=PS752: How could Iran have made such a terrible tragic mistake? | date=13 January 2020 | access-date=18 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114192521/https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2020/01/13/ps752-how-could-iran-have-made-such-a-terrible-tragic-mistake/ | archive-date=14 January 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/ukrainian-flight-ps752-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-from-tehran/|title = Ukrainian flight PS752 shot down shortly after take off from Tehran|date = 8 January 2020|access-date = 8 January 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200108052035/https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/ukrainian-flight-ps752-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-from-tehran/|archive-date = 8 January 2020|url-status = live}}</ref> Iranian [[Brigadier general]] [[Amir Ali Hajizadeh]] of the IRGC Aerospace Defense said a missile operator in [[Bid Kaneh|Bidganeh]] had acted independently, mistook the airplane for a U.S. cruise missile and shot it down. Hajizadeh also said the airplane was on-track and "made no mistake".<ref name="IFP" /><ref name="BBC_Demands" /> Western experts had previously noted that Flight 752 was flying near several sensitive Iranian ballistic missile facilities, including the [[Bid Kaneh explosion|Shahid Modarres missile base]] at Bidganeh near [[Malard]], which the Iranians could have believed would be targets of retaliation for their attack a few hours earlier.<ref name="WP-possible-causes">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-flight-was-on-fire-in-air-and-returning-to-tehran-at-time-of-crash-iran-investigators-say/2020/01/09/9b27434c-3244-11ea-971b-43bec3ff9860_story.html|title=Iranian missile hit Ukrainian plane in possible unintentional firing, Western officials say|last1=Khurshudyan|first1=Isabelle|last2=Ryan|first2=Missy|last3=Lamothe|first3=Dan|last4=Sonne|first4=Paul|date=9 January 2020|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111211752/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-flight-was-on-fire-in-air-and-returning-to-tehran-at-time-of-crash-iran-investigators-say/2020/01/09/9b27434c-3244-11ea-971b-43bec3ff9860_story.html|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BI-possible-causes">{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-iran-crash-panic-bad-training-may-led-missile-attack-2020-1|title=Experts say 'panic' and 'poor training' could have resulted in Iran accidentally shooting down Ukrainian Flight 752|last1=Porter|first1=Tom|last2=Collman|first2=Ashley|date=10 January 2020|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref> The flight had been delayed by more than an hour because the captain had decided to offload some luggage as the aircraft was over its [[Maximum takeoff weight|certified takeoff weight]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 January 2020|title=Ukraine airline says plane had no warning of threat before Iran crash|newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-uia-president-idUSKBN1ZA0FQ|url-status=live|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111222512/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-uia-president-idUSKBN1ZA0FQ|archive-date=11 January 2020|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref> On 11 July 2020, the CAOI reported that Iran now blamed the missile strike that downed PS752 on "bad communication" and "poor alignment". According to the Iranians, the missile battery "had been relocated and was not properly reoriented" and the guilty parties did not include the higher-ranking [[chain of command]] officers.<ref name="cbcap12j">{{cite news |title=Iran blames missile strike that downed Ukrainian airliner on bad communication, poor alignment |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-missile-plane-downing-1.5646771|agency=The Associated Press |publisher=CBC |date=12 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="nprcaoi">{{cite news |last1=Schwatrz |first1=Matthew S. |title=Iranian Report Details Chain Of Mistakes In Shooting Down Ukrainian Passenger Plane |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/12/890194877/iranian-report-details-chain-of-mistakes-in-shooting-down-ukrainian-passenger-pl |publisher=NPR |date=12 July 2020}}</ref> On 20 July, Canadian foreign minister [[François-Philippe Champagne]] rejected the finding by the CAOI that "[[human error]]" caused the launch of the missiles which destroyed the aircraft: "It cannot just be the result of a human error. There is no circumstance under (which) a civilian aircraft can be downed just by the result of human error in this day and age... All the facts and circumstances point to more than just a human error, so certainly we will continue to pursue vigorously the investigation."<ref name="fpcreject" /> === Analyses based on social media === On 9 January, the [[Instagram]] account [[Rich Kids of Tehran]] published a video captioned: "The actual footage from the moment the #Ukrainian flight was shot down by a Russian-made Tor-M1 missile just moments after takeoff from #Tehran's Airport".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B7G5AwngbT1/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B7G5AwngbT1 |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Rich Kids of Tehran on Instagram: "The actual footage from the moment the #Ukrainian flight was shot down by a Russian-made Tor-M1 missile just moments after takeoff from ..."|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The video was published at the same time the Iranian authorities were claiming technical problems for the crash.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/09/iran-plane-crash-report-ukraine-boeing-flames-turn-back-radio-call|title=Iran plane crash: burning Boeing was trying to turn back, say Tehran investigators|last=Agencies|date=2020-01-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-31|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114085730/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/09/iran-plane-crash-report-ukraine-boeing-flames-turn-back-radio-call|archive-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-crash-ukranian-victims-aftermath-investigations-timeline-2020-1|title=Everything we know so far about the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 crash in Iran|last=Frias|first=Sinéad Baker, Michelle Mark, Lauren|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212181906/https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-crash-ukranian-victims-aftermath-investigations-timeline-2020-1|archive-date=12 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Qassem Biniaz, a spokesman for Iran's Road and Transportation Ministry, said the pilot "lost control of the plane" after a fire broke out in one of its engines, denying the Ukrainian plane was hit by a missile.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-crash-statement-idUKKBN1Z82OJ|title=Iran denies Ukrainian plane was hit by missile—statement|date=2020-01-10|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-30|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304191444/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-crash-statement-idUKKBN1Z82OJ|archive-date=4 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172wq544chkb96|title=BBC World Service—Newshour, Iran denies shooting down Ukrainian jet|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111201454/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172wq544chkb96|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/iran-denies-downing-ukrainian-plane-asks-west-to-provide-evidence-1.8379673|title=Iran Denies Downing Ukrainian Plane, Asks West to Provide Evidence|agency=Associated Press|date=2020-01-10|work=Haaretz|access-date=2020-01-30|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130203006/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/iran-denies-downing-ukrainian-plane-asks-west-to-provide-evidence-1.8379673|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 January, a video was posted on a public [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel showing what was, according to [[Bellingcat]], apparently a mid-air explosion. ''The New York Times'' contacted the person who filmed the video and confirmed its authenticity. An investigation team from Bellingcat carried out an analysis of this video and geolocated it to a residential area in Parand, a suburb west of the airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/10/how-open-source-investigators-quickly-identified-irans-likely-role-crash-flight-752|title=How open-source investigators quickly identified Iran's likely role in the crash of Flight 752|author=Philip Bump|date=10 January 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112024243/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/10/how-open-source-investigators-quickly-identified-irans-likely-role-crash-flight-752/|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/09/video-apparently-showing-flight-ps572-missile-strike-geolocated-to-iranian-suburb/|title=Video Apparently Showing Flight PS752 Missile Strike Geolocated to Iranian Suburb|date=9 January 2020|website=bellingcat|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110174016/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/09/video-apparently-showing-flight-ps572-missile-strike-geolocated-to-iranian-suburb/|archive-date=10 January 2020|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> Bellingcat also examined photos from an unknown source and said these images of a missile nose cone had yet to be verified, despite claims from several sources.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/09/video-apparently-showing-flight-ps572-missile-strike-geolocated-to-iranian-suburb/|title=Video Apparently Showing Flight PS752 Missile Strike Geolocated to Iranian Suburb|date=9 January 2020|website=bellingcat|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110174016/https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020/01/09/video-apparently-showing-flight-ps572-missile-strike-geolocated-to-iranian-suburb/|archive-date=10 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref> The [[Tor missile system|Tor missile]]'s warhead is located in its midsection, meaning its nose may not be destroyed in an explosion.<ref name="auto3"/> Similar photographs of fragments have been taken in eastern Ukraine, but none have been found to be the same as those attributed to the recent incident.<ref name="auto3"/> ''[[USA Today]]'' reported that the firm [[IHS Markit]] reviewed photographs showing the guidance section of a missile and "assesses them to be credible".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://max1063.iheart.com/content/2020-01-09-report-ukrainian-plane-that-crashed-in-iran-was-likely-hit-by-missile/|title=Report: Ukrainian Plane That Crashed In Iran Was Likely Hit By Missile|author=Bill Galluccio|date=9 January 2020|website=max1063.iheart.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109190515/https://max1063.iheart.com/content/2020-01-09-report-ukrainian-plane-that-crashed-in-iran-was-likely-hit-by-missile/|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/09/ukraine-plane-likely-shot-down-iran-missile-report/4419263002/|title=Iran plane crash report: Ukraine jet may have been hit by Iran missile|author=John Bacon|date=9 January 2020|website=usatoday.com|publisher=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109185336/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/01/09/ukraine-plane-likely-shot-down-iran-missile-report/4419263002/|archive-date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Aviation monitoring group Opsgroup said: "We would recommend the starting assumption to be that this was a shootdown event, similar to [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17|MH17]]—until there is clear evidence to the contrary" asserting that photographs "show obvious projectile holes in the fuselage and a wing section".<ref name="IndyShootdown8th">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-shootdown-ukraine-boeing-latest-a9275051.html|title=Iran plane crash may have been 'shootdown event', aviation experts say|work=The Independent|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108153307/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-shootdown-ukraine-boeing-latest-a9275051.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> === Subsequent developments === On 9 January, President Trump said the airplane "was flying in a pretty rough neighbourhood, and somebody could have made a mistake."<ref name="hill trump interview"/> He said the U.S. had no involvement in the incident and that he did not believe a mechanical issue had anything to do with the crash.<ref name="hill trump interview">{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/477543-trump-on-downed-ukrainian-plane-somebody-couldve-made-a-mistake | title=Trump on downed Ukrainian plane: 'Somebody could've made a mistake' | work=The Hill | date=9 January 2020 | access-date=12 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109193307/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/477543-trump-on-downed-ukrainian-plane-somebody-couldve-made-a-mistake | archive-date=9 January 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> U.S. intelligence sources informed U.S. media outlets they were "confident that Iran painted the Ukrainian airliner with radar and fired two surface to air missiles that brought down the aircraft."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Noroozi |first1=Ibrahim |title='Highly likely' Iran shot down Ukrainian airliner, US official says |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/highly-iran-shot-ukrainian-airliner-us-official-confirms/story?id=68173173 |agency=AP |publisher=abcnews |date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109183712/https://abcnews.go.com/International/highly-iran-shot-ukrainian-airliner-us-official-confirms/story?id=68173173 |archive-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pickrell |first1=Ryan |title=The Ukrainian flight that crashed in Iran was 'highly likely' shot down by a missile, according to reported US intelligence |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-flight-752-shot-down-by-anti-aircraft-missile-2020-1?r=US&IR=T |publisher=Business Insider |date=9 January 2020 |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311020544/https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-flight-752-shot-down-by-anti-aircraft-missile-2020-1?r=US&IR=T |archive-date=11 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also on 9 January, at a news conference in [[Ottawa]], Canadian [[prime minister|Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]] said the airliner was likely brought down by an Iranian missile, citing intelligence from Canadian and other sources, and said the incident "may well have been unintentional".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794863678/we-will-surely-find-out-the-truth-questions-linger-about-jet-crash-in-iran | title=Trudeau: Evidence Shows Iranian Missile Shot Down Jet In Possibly 'Unintentional' Act | publisher=National Public Radio | date=9 January 2020 | access-date=12 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109215727/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794863678/we-will-surely-find-out-the-truth-questions-linger-about-jet-crash-in-iran | archive-date=9 January 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 January, during an interview with [[Sky News]], Iran's [[ambassador]] to the United Kingdom, [[Hamid Baeidinejad]], rejected video footage obtained by American media that showed bulldozers clearing the crash site as "absurd".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.sky.com/story/iran-plane-crash-highly-likely-jet-was-hit-by-iranian-missile-leaders-say-as-new-video-emerges-11904978 | title=Iran ambassador rejects 'absurd' claim bulldozers are clearing Ukraine jet crash site | publisher=Sky News | date=10 January 2020 | access-date=12 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111165205/https://news.sky.com/story/iran-plane-crash-highly-likely-jet-was-hit-by-iranian-missile-leaders-say-as-new-video-emerges-11904978 | archive-date=11 January 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> Baeidinejad further denied that an Iranian missile had brought down the airplane, and said that "[p]lane accidents are a very technical issue, I cannot judge, you cannot judge, reporters on the ground cannot judge. Nobody can judge. A [[foreign minister]] or a [[prime minister]] cannot judge on this issue."<ref>{{cite news|date=10 January 2020|title=Iran plane crash: Tehran insists it will supply black box data to Trump administration|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-ukraine-black-fox-flight-missile-trump-us-a9278546.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111135730/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-plane-crash-ukraine-black-fox-flight-missile-trump-us-a9278546.html|archive-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> On 11 January, Iran admitted it had shot down the Ukrainian jet by "accident", the result of human error. [[General officer|General]] [[Amir Ali Hajizadeh]], the head of the [[Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC's Aerospace Force]], said his unit accepts "full responsibility" for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state television, he said that when he learned about the downing of the airplane, "I wished I was dead." Hajizadeh said that, with his forces on high alert, an officer mistook it for a hostile missile and made a "bad decision".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-11/under-pressure-iran-admits-it-shot-down-jetliner-by-mistake|title=Suleimani's death stifled rebellion in Iran. But a downed jetliner reignites dissent|date=11 January 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112000046/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-11/under-pressure-iran-admits-it-shot-down-jetliner-by-mistake|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IFP" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-11|title=فیلم کامل اظهارات سردار حاجی‌زاده درباره سقوط هواپیمای اوکراینی/ وقتی مطمئن شدم آرزوی مرگ کردم|trans-title=Full video of Sardar Hajizadeh's remarks about the crash of a Ukrainian plane / When I was sure I wished for death|url=https://www.farsnews.ir/media/13981021000604|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111164840/https://www.farsnews.ir/media/13981021000604/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AC%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%88%D9%82%D8%AA%DB%8C|archive-date=2020-01-11|access-date=2021-12-11|website=Fars News Agency|language=fa}}</ref> On 14 January, the [[Rich Kids of Tehran]] [[Instagram]] account published a new video, showing two missiles hitting the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/tv/B7UDNcDACbb/|title=Rich Kids of Tehran on Instagram: "Verified footage showing 2 x Tor-Missiles being fire at the #Ukrainian International Airline Flight #752 with a proximity of 30 second gap ..."|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref> The security camera footage, verified by ''The New York Times'', shows two missiles, fired 30 seconds apart.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/iran-plane-crash-video.html|title=New Video Shows Two Iranian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane|last1=Browne|first1=Malachy|date=14 January 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 January 2020|last2=Hill|first2=Evan|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Mitchell|first3=Logan|last4=Marcolini|first4=Barbara|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114191017/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/iran-plane-crash-video.html|archive-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 January, the [[Civil Aviation Organization of Iran]] also admitted that the country's IRGC had fired two Russian-made Tor-M1 missiles at the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upnewsinfo.com/2020/01/21/iran-confirms-that-two-missiles-fired-at-the-downed-ukrainian-plane-iran-news/|title=Iran confirms that two missiles fired at the downed Ukrainian plane|access-date=21 January 2020|website=Up News Info|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124051540/https://upnewsinfo.com/2020/01/21/iran-confirms-that-two-missiles-fired-at-the-downed-ukrainian-plane-iran-news/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iran confirms it fired two missiles at Ukrainian plane |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200121-iran-confirms-it-fired-two-missiles-at-ukrainian-plane |website=France 24 |publisher=France Médias Monde |access-date=21 January 2020 |date=21 January 2020 |quote=Investigators{{nbsp}}... discovered that two Tor-M1 missiles{{nbsp}}... were fired at the aircraft{{nbsp}}...}}</ref> On 8 January 2021, the first anniversary of the shootdown, Ukraine and several other countries made a joint statement calling on Iran for a thorough investigation and reiterated for them to prosecute anyone involved, and provide full compensation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zhegulev|first=Ilya|date=2021-01-08|title="Never again" says Ukraine as families mourn Iran plane crash victims|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-crash-idUSL8N2JJ2G3|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Karstens-Smith|first=Breanna|date=2021-01-08|title=Iran plane crash: What has happened in the year since Flight PS752 was shot down?|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7555272/iran-flight-752-plane-crash-timeline/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Global News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Teslova|first=Elena|date=2021-01-08|title=Ukraine asks Iran for explanation of its plane crash|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/ukraine-asks-iran-for-explanation-of-its-plane-crash/2102958|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> === Final report === On 17 March 2021, CAOI released the final report on the crash, which states the following:<ref name="CAO.IRI final report">{{Cite report|date=2021-03-17|title=PS752 Accident Investigation- Final Report|url=https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eUcwc08zbTZtdVlWSWxPanBMdTF6b1FUNUhJamZtekxMTAozbzUvYm9zMUxRPT0=.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-03-18|publisher=[[Civil Aviation Organization (Iran)|Civil Aviation Organization]]|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317140234/https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eUcwc08zbTZtdVlWSWxPanBMdTF6b1FUNUhJamZtekxMTAozbzUvYm9zMUxRPT0=.pdf}}</ref> {{Blockquote|text=The air defense's launching two surface-to-air missiles at the flight PS752, UR-PSR aircraft, the detonation of the first missile warhead in proximity of the aircraft caused damage to the aircraft systems, and the intensification of damage led the aircraft to crash into the ground and explode instantly.}}A contributing factor was: {{Blockquote|text=The mitigating measures and defense layers in risk management proved to be ineffective due to the occurrence of an unanticipated error in threat identifications, and ultimately failed to protect the flight safety against the threats caused by the alertness of defense forces.}}Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Dmytro Kuleba]] rejected the findings and criticized the report as "a collection of manipulations, the goal of which is not to establish the truth, but to whitewash the Islamic Republic of Iran."<ref name="Ukraine rejects report">{{Cite news|date=2021-03-17|title=Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downing of flight PS752|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56428698|access-date=2021-03-19}}</ref> The Transportation Safety Board of Canada also criticized the report, saying that it did not provide an exact reason to why the IRGC fired its missiles at Flight 752.<ref name="TSB response">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-03-18|title=Release of Iran's final safety investigation report into the downing of PS752|url=https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/discours-speeches/2021/03/a20f0002-20210318.html|access-date=2021-03-19|website=www.bst-tsb.gc.ca|publisher=Transportation Safety Board of Canada}}</ref> == Legal == On 10 August 2020, IRGC officer [[Gholamreza Soleimani]], commander of [[Basij]] forces, said that Iran would not compensate Ukraine International Airlines for the shootdown because the "plane is insured by European companies in Ukraine and not by Iranian companies".<ref name="Iran says European insurers should pay compensation for downed Ukrainian plane">{{cite news |author=Hafezi |first1=Parisa |last2=Heinrich |first2=Mark |date=10 Aug 2020 |title=Iran says European insurers should pay compensation for downed Ukrainian plane |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-ukraine-crash-compensation/iran-says-european-insurers-should-pay-compensation-for-downed-ukrainian-plane-idUSKCN25612Q |access-date=13 Aug 2020}}</ref> In February 2020, a proposed [[class action]] claim was filed in the [[Ontario Superior Court of Justice]] against Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]], and various branches of the Iranian military, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Claim—Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 dossier CV-20-00635078-00CP |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/enwiki/static/5e2c96399357e236fda551a5/t/5e2cb3696db1421c54669dab/1579987817799/SOC2020.pdf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126143151/https://static1.squarespace.com/enwiki/static/5e2c96399357e236fda551a5/t/5e2cb3696db1421c54669dab/1579987817799/SOC2020.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2020 |access-date=8 February 2020 |website=Superior Court of Justice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PS752 Class Action |url=https://www.ps752classaction.ca |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126143306/https://www.ps752classaction.ca/ |archive-date=26 January 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |website=ps752cassaction.ca}}</ref> Lawyers of the families of Canadian victims were seeking compensation of at least {{CAD|1.1|link=on}}{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Martell |first1=Allison |date=7 February 2020 |title=Canadian lawyers file lawsuit against Iran over victims of downed Ukrainian plane |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-canada-lawsuit-idUSKBN2012BT |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216114824/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-canada-lawsuit-idUSKBN2012BT |archive-date=16 February 2020 |via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Canadian Lawyers File Lawsuit Against Iran Over Downing Ukrainian Plane |url=https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2121026/canadian-lawyers-file-lawsuit-against-iran-over-downing-ukrainian-plane |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216114819/https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2121026/canadian-lawyers-file-lawsuit-against-iran-over-downing-ukrainian-plane |archive-date=16 February 2020 |access-date=16 February 2020 |website=Asharq AL-awsat}}</ref> In April 2020, families of the victims formed [[The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims]] in [[Toronto, Ontario, Canada]], to follow the case through legal avenues. The association's president and spokesman, [[Hamed Esmaeilion]], said the association's aim is, "to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, including those who ordered it".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Families of Victims Of Ukrainian Plane Shot Down By Iran Form Association |date=2 April 2020 |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/families-of-victims-of-ukrainian-plane-shot-down-by-iran-form-association/30525526.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404054345/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/families-of-victims-of-ukrainian-plane-shot-down-by-iran-form-association/30525526.html |archive-date=4 April 2020 |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Timeline |url=https://www.ps752justice.com/timeline/ |website=The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims / PS752 انجمن خانواده‌های جانباختگان پرواز &#124; PS752Justice|date=10 February 2021 }}</ref> In July 2020, Esmaeilion was outraged that the [[ICAO]] had yet to condemn the incident, and pointed out that the ICAO needed only three months to adopt a unanimous resolution condemning in the strongest terms the destruction and alleged murders of Malaysia Airlines [[Flight MH17]].<ref name="mh17cbc">{{cite news |last1=Sevunts |first1=Levon |date=25 June 2020 |title=Families of Flight PS752 victims outraged that UN agency hasn't condemned the attack |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ps752-iran-ukraine-crash-1.5627626}}</ref> On 30 December 2020, Iran unilaterally announced that it had allocated $150,000 for each victim's family. Ukraine was critical, stating that the compensation should be set through talks after establishing the causes of the crash, and that "the Ukrainian side expects from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the aircraft shooting down".<ref>{{cite news |date=30 December 2020 |title=Iran allocates $150,000 for each family of victims of Ukraine plane crash |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-ukraine-plane-compensation/iran-allocates-150000-for-each-family-of-victims-of-ukraine-plane-crash-idUSKBN29413H}}</ref> On 20 May 2021, Justice Belobaba of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released a decision finding that "The shooting down of Flight 752 by the defendants (Islamic Republic of Iran) was an act of terrorism and constitutes "terrorist activity" under the SIA (State Immunity Act), the JVTA (Justice For Victims of Terrorism Act) and the provisions of the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Jonah |date=20 May 2021 |title=Iran Found to Have Committed Terrorist Act by Canadian Court |url=https://www.flight752.ca/news/ps752-decision |website=Flight PS752 |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611152701/https://www.flight752.ca/news/ps752-decision |url-status=dead }}</ref> The defendants were not represented or in attendance in court and the case resulted in a [[default judgment]]. Iran's foreign ministry denounced the court's verdict as political, stating "This verdict has no basis and does not consist of any objective reasoning or documentation ... This behaviour of the Canadian judge, by following orders and political cliches, is shameful for a country which claims to follow the rule of law." Leah West, an assistant professor at the [[Norman Paterson School of International Affairs]] at [[Carleton University]] said that the "judge contorted the law by cherry-picking his way to finding the aircraft was destroyed in an act of terrorism." She concluded "While his motivations for doing all that may be noble, that's dangerous for the rule of law".<ref name="Burke21May21">{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Ashley |last2=Tizhoosh |first2=Nahayat |date=15 January 2022 |title=Iran condemns Ontario court's ruling that destruction of Flight PS752 was a terrorist act |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iran-denounces-ontario-court-ruling-flight-ps752-1.6036119 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220105034219/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iran-denounces-ontario-court-ruling-flight-ps752-1.6036119 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |access-date=15 January 2022 |work=[[CBC News]] }}</ref> The lawyer for the plaintiffs indicated that, depending on the amounts awarded, he would move to have Iranian assets in Canada or internationally seized, including oil tankers.<ref name="Burke-Tizhoosh20May21">{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Ashley |last2=Tizhoosh |first2=Nahayat |date=20 May 2021 |title=Iran intentionally shot down Flight PS752 in 'an act of terrorism,' Ontario court rules |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flightps752-private-lawsuit-against-iran-alleging-terrorist-activity-1.6034581 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521011644/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flightps752-private-lawsuit-against-iran-alleging-terrorist-activity-1.6034581 |archive-date=21 May 2021 |access-date=20 May 2021 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> As of 3 January 2022, the Ontario Superior Court has awarded more than C$107M to families of six victims after ruling the shootdown was "an intentional act of terrorism". It is unclear how any of the plaintiffs will collect their settlements from the government of Iran and legal experts have indicated that a diplomatic solution for compensation may be the only realistic route available, since Iran views the court ruling as illegitimate.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=3 January 2022 |title=Ontario court awards more than $107M to families over deadly Flight 752 shootdown |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-court-awards-more-than-107m-to-families-over-deadly-flight-752-shootdown-1.5726465 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220104011743/https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-court-awards-more-than-107m-to-families-over-deadly-flight-752-shootdown-1.5726465 |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=cp24.com |publisher=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref><ref name="Raycraft04Jan22">{{cite web |last=Raycraft |first=Richard |date=4 January 2022 |title=Getting compensation for Flight PS752 victims will be difficult, lawyer says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flight-ps-752-compensation-1.6303691 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220105123944/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flight-ps-752-compensation-1.6303691 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=[[CBC News]] }}</ref> On 8 January 2022, Deputy Prosecutor General [[Gyunduz Mamedov]] stated that the names of some of the attackers had already been identified. In particular, it is necessary to check for involvement in the commission of the crime lower-level servicemen of the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (IRGC), including Captain Mehdi Khosravi, commander of the M-1 TOR, First Lieutenant Meysam Kheirollahi, operator, Third Lieutenant Seyed Ahmad Miri, First Lieutenant Mohammad Majid Eslam Doost, Captain Sajjad Mohammadi, Major Hamed Mabhout, Second Brigadier General Ibrahim Safaei Kia, Brigadier General Ali Akbar Seydoun and Iranian Army Colonel Mostafa Farati, who are charged with negligence, recklessness and improper performance of duty and other related offences.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2022 |title=Загибель рейсу PS 752: два роки потому. 08.01.2022 |trans-title=The demise of Flight PS752: two years later. 08.01.2022 |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/ukrayina-iran-zbyttya-litaka-ps752-dva-roky/31644173.html |accessdate=8 January 2022 |language=uk}}</ref> In July 2022, UIA announced it would sue Iran and the IRGC for $1 billion over the incident. They are seeking damages for the loss of life and baggage of passengers and crew as well as derivative claims of surviving family members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine Airlines Sues Iran And IRGC For $1bln Over Downed Plane|url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202207079895|access-date=2022-12-22| website=Iran International}}</ref> In 2023 the ICJ (International Court of Justice) said that "Canada and three allies filed proceedings against Iran".<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICJ confirms international case over Iran downing of Flight PS752|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/5/icj-confirms-international-case-over-iran-downing-of-flight-ps752|access-date=2023-06-05| website=Aljazeera}}</ref> Ukraine, Sweden, Canada and Britain stated that Iran did not "conduct an impartial, transparent and fair criminal investigation" but rather "withheld or destroyed evidence" and threatened families of victims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Years After Iranian Missiles Downed a Passenger Jet, a Suit Seeks Answers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/world/europe/iran-ukraine-airlines-hague.html|access-date=2023-06-06|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On 5 July 2023, the four affected countries of Canada, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Sweden referred the case of the downing of flight PS752 to the International Court of Justice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Svenson |first=Adam |date=2023-07-06 |title=Flight PS752 Case Referred to International Court of Justice |url=https://airspacenews.net/flight-ps752-case-referred-to-international-court-of-justice/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=AIR SPACE News |language=en-US}}</ref> The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims independently filed a claim before the ICJ in support of the four affected countries' referral.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims' Statement on the Referral of the Case to the International Court of Justice - The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims / PS752 انجمن خانواده‌های جانباختگان پرواز {{!}} PS752Justice |url=https://www.ps752justice.com/the-association-of-families-of-flight-ps752-victims-statement-on-the-referral-of-the-case-to-the-international-court-of-justice/,%20https://www.ps752justice.com/the-association-of-families-of-flight-ps752-victims-statement-on-the-referral-of-the-case-to-the-international-court-of-justice/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> == Reactions == === Air traffic === Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) suspended flights to Tehran indefinitely shortly after the incident, with flights after the day of the crash no longer available.<ref name="Telegraph" /> The suspension also complied with a prohibition issued by [[State Aviation Administration of Ukraine]] for flights in Iran's airspace for all Ukrainian registered aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flyuia.com/ua/en/news/2020/information-for-passengers-of-uia-suspended-flights-to-from-tehran|title=Information for passengers of UIA suspended flights to/from Tehran—Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) (Ukraine)|website=FlyUIA|language=en|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Since the crash, additional airlines, [[Air Astana]] and [[SCAT Airlines]] also re-routed flights that overflew Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.trend.az/business/transport/3174259.html|title=Kazakhstan's Air Astana suspends flights over Iraq, Iran|date=8 January 2020|website=Trend.Az|language=en|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://akipress.com/news:632342:Kazakhstani_air_companies_recommended_to_avoid_flying_over_Iran/|title=Kazakhstani air companies recommended to avoid flying over Iran|website=akipress.com|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109090016/https://akipress.com/news:632342:Kazakhstani_air_companies_recommended_to_avoid_flying_over_Iran/|archive-date=9 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> This followed a recommendation by the [[Kazakhstan]] Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, issued to Kazakhstani air companies after the crash, to avoid flying over Iran airspace and/or to cancel flights to Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.akipress.com/news:632342:Kazakhstani_air_companies_recommended_to_avoid_flying_over_Iran/|title=Kazakhstani air companies recommended to avoid flying over Iran|website=m.akipress.com|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111123846/https://m.akipress.com/news:632342:Kazakhstani_air_companies_recommended_to_avoid_flying_over_Iran/|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Air Canada]] rerouted its [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto]]-[[Dubai International Airport|Dubai]] flight to fly over [[Egypt]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] instead of Iraq.<ref name="CBC1.5418717">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/airlines-iran-flight-path-1.5418717|title=Air Canada among carriers changing flight paths after Iran plane crash|date=8 January 2020|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108205604/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/airlines-iran-flight-path-1.5418717|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|agency=[[The Associated Press]]}}</ref> === Iran === ==== Government and IRGC ==== [[File:Commemoration_of_the_victims_of_UIA_Flight_752_2.jpg|thumb|Commemoration of the victims of the air crash in Iran]] Iran declared 9 January a [[national day of mourning]] both for the victims of Flight 752 and for those killed in a stampede at [[Funerals of Qasem Soleimani|Qasem Soleimani's funeral]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iran declares Jan 9 mourning day after plane crash, Kerman stampede at Soleimani's funeral|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/middle-east/iran-declares-jan-9-mourning-day-after-plane-crash-kerman-stampede-at-soleimanis-funeral20200109031125/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=ANI News|language=en}}</ref> On 11 January, the Iranian IRGC said they had shot down the aircraft after erroneously identifying it as a hostile target.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e |title=Under pressure, Iran admits it shot down jetliner by mistake |work=Associated Press |first1=Nasser |last1=Karimi |first2=Joseph |last2=Krauss |date=11 January 2020 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111035544/https://apnews.com/21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e |archive-date=11 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> President Rouhani called the incident an "unforgivable mistake".<ref name="bbc-admission">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51073621 |title=Iran plane crash: Ukrainian jet was 'unintentionally' shot down |work=[[BBC]] |date=11 January 2020 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111041518/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51073621 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Foreign minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] apologized for the disaster and added that the preliminary conclusion of the armed forces' internal investigation was "human error".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine Plane Shot Down Because of Human Error, Iran Says: Live Updates |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/11/world/middleeast/plane-crash.html |website=The New York Times |date=11 January 2020 |access-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112130737/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/11/world/middleeast/plane-crash.html |archive-date=12 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 January, Iranian Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]], in his first [[Friday sermon]] in eight years, referred to the incident as a bitter accident. His sermon came as public anger mounted against the government for their handling of the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ayatollah-khamenei-defends-revolutionary-guard-friday-sermon-200117105420440.html|title=Iran's Khamenei defends Revolutionary Guard in Friday sermon|website=Al Jazeera|date=17 January 2020|access-date=17 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117205548/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ayatollah-khamenei-defends-revolutionary-guard-friday-sermon-200117105420440.html|archive-date=17 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, an Iranian MP, the spokesman for the Iranian parliament's legal and judicial committee, said the Iranian military "carried out their duties well", adding that "the movement of the plane was very suspicious" and that no arrests had been made in relation to the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/04/06/Iranian-MP-Iran-military-did-well-in-downing-Ukrainian-plane.html|title=Iranian MP: Iran military did well in downing Ukrainian plane|date=2020-04-06|website=english.alarabiya.net|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408105555/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/04/06/Iranian-MP-Iran-military-did-well-in-downing-Ukrainian-plane.html|archive-date=8 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/iranian-lawmaker-praises-downing-of-ukrainian-passenger-plane.html|title=Iranian lawmaker praises downing of Ukrainian passenger plane {{!}} KyivPost—Ukraine's Global Voice|date=2020-04-07|website=KyivPost|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> ==== Anti-government protests ==== {{main|Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 protests}} [[File:Gathering and protest rally outside Amir Kabir University 2020-01-11 11.jpg|thumb|A gathering at [[Amirkabir University of Technology]]. Above flowers and lit candles a notice reads "What is the cost of lying?"]] On 11 January, in response to the government's admission, thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities such as [[Isfahan]], [[Shiraz]], [[Hamadan]] and [[Urmia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/iran-faces-protests-international-blowback-after-shooting-down-airliner/a-51970567|title=Iran faces protests, international blowback after shooting down airliner &#124; DW &#124; 12.01.2020|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112111802/https://www.dw.com/en/iran-faces-protests-international-blowback-after-shooting-down-airliner/a-51970567|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Video clips on Twitter showed protesters in Tehran chanting "Death to the dictator", a reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/11/iran-leaders-face-uproar-after-missile-error-that-caused-plane-crash.html|title=Iran leaders face anger from protesters after Tehran admits missile error caused plane crash|date=11 January 2020|website=CNBC|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112112102/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/11/iran-leaders-face-uproar-after-missile-error-that-caused-plane-crash.html|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In Tehran, hundreds of protesters took to the streets to vent anger at officials, calling them liars for having denied the shootdown. Protests took place outside at least two universities: students and protesters gathered at [[Sharif University of Technology|Sharif University]], [[Amirkabir University of Technology|Amirkabir University]] and Hafez Overpass in Tehran, initially to pay respect to the victims. Protests turned angry in the evening. President Trump tweeted support for the protests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/477846-trump-tweets-message-of-support-to-iranian-protestors-in-farsi-your|title=Trump tweets message of support to Iranian protesters: 'Your courage is inspiring'|last=Johnson|first=Martin|date=11 January 2020|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112023137/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/477846-trump-tweets-message-of-support-to-iranian-protestors-in-farsi-your|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Protesters In Tehran Chant Against Khamenei For Deceiving Public About Plane Crash|work=Radio Farda|date=11 January 2020 |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/protesters-in-tehran-chant-against-khamenei-for-deceiving-public-about-plane-crash/30371951.html|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111160011/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/protesters-in-tehran-chant-against-khamenei-for-deceiving-public-about-plane-crash/30371951.html|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The mourning Iranians called [[Qasem Soleimani]] a murderer and tore up pictures of him, shattering the appearance of national solidarity that had followed [[2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike|his death]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-51076138|title=تجمع در چند شهر ایران در اعتراض به انکار اصابت موشک به هواپیمای اوکراینی؛ گاز اشک‌آور و شعار علیه رهبر و سپاه در تهران|language=fa|newspaper=BBC News فارسی|date=11 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111221550/https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-51076138|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/11/795567483/irans-unforgivable-mistake-downing-jet-elicits-furor-at-home-and-abroad|title=Iran's 'Unforgivable Mistake' Downing Jet Elicits Furor At Home And Abroad|website=npr|date=11 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111222420/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/11/795567483/irans-unforgivable-mistake-downing-jet-elicits-furor-at-home-and-abroad|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live|last1=Dwyer|first1=Colin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51079965|title=Iran plane crash: Protesters condemn 'lies' on downed jet|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112105033/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51079965|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.france24.com/en/20200112-students-gather-tehran-mourn-victims-protest-iran-officials-response-downed-plane|title= Furious protesters call for Iran's Supreme Leader to step down in wake of downed Ukrainian plane|website= France24|date= 12 January 2020|access-date= 13 January 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113125431/https://www.france24.com/en/20200112-students-gather-tehran-mourn-victims-protest-iran-officials-response-downed-plane|archive-date= 13 January 2020|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/01/11/world/middleeast/11reuters-iran-crash-protests-fars.html|title=Iranian Semi-Official News Agency Reports Anti-Government Protests|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113164827/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/01/11/world/middleeast/11reuters-iran-crash-protests-fars.html|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/11/trump-tells-iranian-protesters-that-he-stands-with-them-and-warns-tehran-the-world-is-watching.html|title=Trump tells Iranian protesters he stands with them and warns Tehran: 'The world is watching'|website=CNBC|date=12 January 2020|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113164828/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/11/trump-tells-iranian-protesters-that-he-stands-with-them-and-warns-tehran-the-world-is-watching.html|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 January, in Tehran and in several other cities protesters chanted slogans against the leadership and clashed with security forces and Iran's [[Basij|Basiji Force]] firing tear gas at the protesters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/12/iran-braces-for-protests-after-admitting-plane-shootdown.html|title='Our enemy is here': Iran protesters demand leaders quit after military admits it shot down plane|date=12 January 2020|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112201830/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/12/iran-braces-for-protests-after-admitting-plane-shootdown.html|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The protesters chanted that they needed more than just resignations, but prosecutions of those responsible as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/they-killed-our-sons-and-daughters-anger-rises-in-iran-over-flight-752 |title='They killed our sons and daughters': anger rises in Iran over Flight 752 |first=Emma |last=Graham-Harrison |work=The Guardian |date=11 January 2020 |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113012621/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/they-killed-our-sons-and-daughters-anger-rises-in-iran-over-flight-752 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tehran residents told [[Reuters]] that police were out in force in the capital on 12 January, with dozens of protesters in Tehran chanting "They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here," and scores of demonstrators gathered in other cities.<ref name="reuters">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1ZA0X6|title=Protests erupt again in Iran after military admits it hit plane|date=12 January 2020|via=www.reuters.com|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112163807/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1ZA0X6|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] reported that on 11 and 12 January Iranian security forces used [[tear gas]], pointed pellets and [[pepper spray]] against peaceful demonstrators.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/01/iran-scores-injured-as-security-forces-use-unlawful-force-to-crush-protests/ Iran: Scores injured as security forces use unlawful force to crush protest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115193832/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/01/iran-scores-injured-as-security-forces-use-unlawful-force-to-crush-protests/ |date=15 January 2020 }}s</ref> On 13 January, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Iranian security forces fired both [[Ammunition|live ammunition]] and tear gas to disperse demonstrators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-12/iran-leaders-protests-ukrainian-plane|title=Defense secretary 'didn't see' intelligence backing Trump's claim of Iran plot against U.S. embassies|date=12 January 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113002510/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-12/iran-leaders-protests-ukrainian-plane|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran's exiled Crown Prince [[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]] said the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was responsible for the downing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/exiled-prince-says-khamenei-responsible-for-downing-of-ukraine-airliner/30372054.html|title=Exiled Prince Says Khamenei Responsible For Downing Of Ukraine Airliner|website=RFE/RL|date=11 January 2020 |access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111223203/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/exiled-prince-says-khamenei-responsible-for-downing-of-ukraine-airliner/30372054.html|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iranian reformist newspaper ''[[Etemad]]'' ran the banner headline "Apologize and resign", and commented on the "people's demand" for the removal of those responsible for the shootdown.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1ZA0X6|title=Protesters demand Iran's leaders quit after military admits it hit plane|date=12 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=12 January 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111235521/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-idUSKBN1ZA0X6|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> A Khamenei representative in the elite Revolutionary Guards told a gathering of Khamenei's representatives in Iranian universities that the ''Assembly of Experts'', the clerical body that chose Khamenei, "... do not appoint the Supreme Leader, rather they discover him and it is not that they would be able to remove him any time they wish so. In the Islamic system, the office and the legitimacy of the Supreme Leader comes from God, the Prophet and the Shi'ite Imams".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-leader/irans-supreme-leader-cannot-be-removed-idUSTRE5AC2TB20091113|title=Iran's Supreme Leader cannot be removed|date=November 13, 2009|work=Reuters}}</ref> ==== Funerals ==== Iran's [[Radio Farda]] reported that according to [[Zeytoun]] (a Persian website based outside of Iran), Iranian intelligence agents forced families of the victims to give interviews on state TV, declaring their support for the Iranian government or else the government would not deliver the bodies of the victims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/plane-crash-victims-families-complain-of-harassment-by-iranian-officials/30404475.html|title=Plane Crash Victims' Families Complain Of Harassment By Iranian Officials|website=RFE/RL|date=29 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130154814/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/plane-crash-victims-families-complain-of-harassment-by-iranian-officials/30404475.html|archive-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Iran's security forces were on alert not to let people turn funerals of the plane crash victims into demonstrations. Nevertheless, in some Iranian cities such as [[Isfahan]] and [[Sanandaj]], participants in these funerals have shown their anger and shouted anti-government slogans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/protesters-chant-anti-regime-slogans-at-funerals-of-iran-crash-victims/30381629.html |title=Protesters Chant Anti-Regime Slogans At Funerals Of Iran Crash Victims |publisher=En.radiofarda.com |date=16 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117161602/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/protesters-chant-anti-regime-slogans-at-funerals-of-iran-crash-victims/30381629.html |archive-date=17 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The supreme leader Ali Khamenei praised the country's armed forces and described the protesters as those deceived by foreign media.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-khamenei-to-lead-friday-prayers-after-protests-over-downed-plane/30382499.html |title=Iran's Khamenei Defends Military Amid Anger Over Downed Plane |publisher=Rferl.org |date=19 January 1990 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119215953/https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-s-khamenei-to-lead-friday-prayers-after-protests-over-downed-plane/30382499.html |archive-date=19 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== Arrests ==== On 14 January 2020, [[Judicial system of Iran|Iran's judiciary]] announced that several arrests had been made over "the accidental shooting down of the aircraft". The spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, did not name any suspect or say how many had been held.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Safi in Beirut |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/14/tehran-plane-crash-individuals-arrested-says-iran |title=Iran calls for UK ambassador to be expelled as arrests made over plane crash—The Guardian |publisher=Theguardian.com |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120005820/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/14/tehran-plane-crash-individuals-arrested-says-iran |archive-date=20 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=2043 GMT (0443 HKT) 14 January 2020 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-arrests-rouhani-intl/index.html |title=Iran announces arrests over plane crash as Rouhani warns those responsible will be punished—CNN |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116031021/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-arrests-rouhani-intl/index.html |archive-date=16 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a televised speech, President Rouhani said the judiciary would assemble a special court with a high-ranking judge and tens of experts to oversee the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51104687 |title=Iran plane downing: 'Several people detained' over airliner loss—BBC News |work=BBC News |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120044727/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51104687 |archive-date=20 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same day, it was announced that Iranian authorities had arrested the person who had published a video of the aircraft being shot down.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-14|title=Iran plane downing: Person who filmed video 'arrested'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51114945|access-date=2021-01-09}}</ref> An Iranian journalist based in London who initially posted the footage insisted his source was safe and that the Iranian authorities had arrested the wrong person.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran plane downing: Person who filmed video 'arrested' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51114945 |work=BBC News |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115105905/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51114945 |archive-date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Tasnim News Agency]] and the semi-official [[Fars News Agency]], Iranian authorities were looking for the person(s) who distributed the video.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/14/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-arrests-rouhani-intl/index.html|title=Iran makes arrests in connection to downing of Ukrainian jet|author1=Ivana Kottasová|author2=Chandler Thornton|author3=Vasco Cotovio|website=CNN|date=14 January 2020 |access-date=2020-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116034951/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/14/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-arrests-rouhani-intl/index.html|archive-date=16 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 April 2021, Iran indicted 10 officials over the shooting down of the aircraft. The outgoing military prosecutor for Tehran province said that "necessary decisions will be taken in court."<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran indicts 10 over Ukraine plane crash, prosecutor says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-ukraine/iran-indicts-10-over-ukraine-plane-crash-prosecutor-says-idUSKBN2BT120?il=0 |access-date=6 April 2021 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=6 April 2021}}</ref> === Ukraine === [[File:IL76_Ukraine_International_Airlines_Flight_752.jpg|thumb|Commemoration of the victims of the air crash in Iran at Kyiv Boryspil airport]] President Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims<ref name="arabnews">{{cite web|url=https://arab.news/2tg68| title=All on board Ukrainian plane in Tehran crash dead |website=Arab News |date=8 January 2020}}</ref> and cut short his diplomatic visit in Oman. He later added that several aircraft had been prepared in [[Kyiv]] to travel to Tehran to transport the dead. He declared 9{{nbsp}}January a national day of mourning, with [[Flag of Ukraine|Ukrainian flags]] flying at half-mast on government buildings. He also announced unscheduled inspections on every airliner in the country and asked Ukrainians to refrain from visiting Iran and Iraq for the time being.<ref>{{cite web|title=UkrInform: Jan. 9 declared day of mourning in Ukraine|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrinform-jan-9-declared-day-of-mourning-in-ukraine.html|publisher=Kyiv Post|access-date=9 January 2020|date=9 January 2020}}</ref> On 11 January Zelenskyy said, "Ukraine insists on a full admission of guilt. We expect Iran to bring those responsible to justice, return the bodies, pay compensation and issue an official apology. The investigation must be full, open and continue without delays or obstacles."<ref name="politico">[https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-admits-to-shooting-down-ukrainian-plane-in-error/ Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane in 'error'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111212436/https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-admits-to-shooting-down-ukrainian-plane-in-error/ |date=11 January 2020 }} By LAURA KAYALI, Politico, 11 January 2020</ref> On 13 January, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, [[Vadym Prystaiko]], said five of the countries that had citizens on board the airliner—Canada, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sweden and the UK<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran faces legal action over downed Ukraine jet |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1612696/middle-east |website=Arab News |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>—would meet in London on 16 January to discuss possible legal action.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> On 19 January, the bodies of 11 Ukrainian citizens who died in the crash were returned to Ukraine in a solemn ceremony at the [[Boryspil International Airport]]. The coffins, which were each draped in a [[Flag of Ukraine|Ukrainian flag]], were carried one by one from a Ukrainian [[Il-76]] military plane of the [[25th Transport Aviation Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riverbender.com/sports-news/details.cfm?id=292826|title=Bodies of 11 Ukrainians killed in Iran plane crash sent home|access-date=19 January 2020|website=River Bender}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> President Zelensky, Secretary of the [[National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine]] [[Oleksiy Danilov]], Prime Minister [[Oleksiy Honcharuk]], Chairman of the [[Verkhovna Rada]] [[Dmytro Razumkov]], and other officials and military servicemen participated in the commemoration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnbo.gov.ua/en/news/3466.html |title=Ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash in the Islamic Republic of Iran is taking place at the Boryspil Airport—National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine |language=en |publisher=Rnbo.gov.ua |access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref> === Canada === [[File:Prime Minister Trudeau updates Canadians on the fatal plane crash in Iran.webm|thumb|Prime Minister of Canada [[Justin Trudeau]] speaks to media.]] With the large loss of Canadian life, [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister]] [[François-Philippe Champagne]] and Transport Minister [[Marc Garneau]] both expressed sympathy for the victims. Champagne announced that he was in touch with the Ukrainian government, and Garneau announced that Canada was offering assistance in the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=What people are saying about the Ukrainian plane crash that killed 176 |url=https://www.vancourier.com/what-people-are-saying-about-the-ukrainian-plane-crash-that-killed-176-1.24048257 |access-date=8 January 2020 |work=[[Vancouver Courier]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=8 January 2020 |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108164749/https://www.vancourier.com/what-people-are-saying-about-the-ukrainian-plane-crash-that-killed-176-1.24048257 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted on transparency and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims.<ref name=politico/> On 14 January, Trudeau said tensions and escalation between Iran and the United States were responsible for the shootdown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/01/14/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-blames-downing-of-ukraine-jet-on-us-escalation/|title=Canadian PM Justin Trudeau blames downing of Ukraine jet on US 'escalation'|last=Steinbuch|first=Yaron|date=14 January 2020|website=The New York Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114201531/https://nypost.com/2020/01/14/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-blames-downing-of-ukraine-jet-on-us-escalation/|archive-date=14 January 2020|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/14/justin-trudeau-us-escalation-partly-to-blame-for-iran-plane-deaths|title=Justin Trudeau: US escalation partly to blame for Iran plane deaths|date=14 January 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 January 2020|url-status=live|publisher=Agence France-Presse|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114095515/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/14/justin-trudeau-us-escalation-partly-to-blame-for-iran-plane-deaths|archive-date=14 January 2020}}</ref> On 17 January, the Canadian government announced that it would provide {{CAD|25000|link=yes}} to the relatives of each of the 57 Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were killed in the crash. The funds were to help cover immediate needs, like funeral and travel expenses. However, Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] also said that it holds Iran financially responsible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://truenewssource.com/2020/01/18/canada-offers-financial-aid-to-victim-families-iran-not-spared/|title=Canada Offers Financial Aid to Victim Families; Iran not Spared|access-date=18 January 2020|website=True News Source|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127151000/https://truenewssource.com/2020/01/18/canada-offers-financial-aid-to-victim-families-iran-not-spared/|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 31 March 2020, [[Ralph Goodale]] was appointed as Special Advisor to the Government of Canada;<ref>{{cite web| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6755532/ralph-goodale-special-advisor-plane-crash/| title=Ralph Goodale named special advisor to feds on Iran plane crash| date=March 31, 2020| website=globalnews.ca| url-status=live| archive-date=March 31, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331140752/https://globalnews.ca/news/6755532/ralph-goodale-special-advisor-plane-crash/}}</ref> Goodale will "examine lessons learned" from Flight 752, [[Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302]], [[Air India Flight 182]] and other air disasters and "develop a framework to guide Canada's responses to international air disasters."<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/31/prime-minister-announces-special-advisor-canadas-ongoing-response| title=The Prime Minister announces Special Advisor for Canada's ongoing response to the Ukraine International Airlines tragedy| date=March 31, 2020| url-status=live| archive-date=March 31, 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200331140658/https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/31/prime-minister-announces-special-advisor-canadas-ongoing-response|publisher=[[Office of the Prime Minister (Canada)|PMO]]}}</ref> On 23 December 2020, Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada will designate 8 January of every year as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Air Disasters.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Paas-Lang|first=Christian|date=2020-12-23|title=Canada to mark national day for victims of air disasters|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/air-disaster-remembrance-day-1.5853643|access-date=2020-12-26|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> On 24 June 2021, an official report from Canada placed the blame on the downing of the plane on Iranian "recklessness, incompetence, and wanton disregard for human life".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2021/06/24/canadian-report-blames-iranian-recklessness-shoot-down-ukraine|title=Canadian report blames Iranian recklessness for shoot-down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752|date=24 June 2021|website=Prime Minister of Canada}}</ref> On 7 October 2022, Trudeau announced the Iranian regime, including the IRGC and its top leaders – more than 10,000 officers and senior members – would be listed as inadmissible to Canada for their engagement in terrorism and systemic and gross human rights violations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-07 |title=Canada to implement new measures against the Iranian regime |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2022/10/07/canada-implement-new-measures-against-iranian-regime |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}}</ref> === United Kingdom === Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] called for the repatriation of the bodies of the dead and pledged to work with Canada and Ukraine.<ref name=politico/> [[List of diplomats of the United Kingdom to Iran|Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Iran]], [[Robert Macaire (diplomat)|Robert Macaire]] was arrested on 11 January 2020 during protests in [[Tehran]] but released shortly afterwards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51077897|title=UK ambassador to Iran arrested in Tehran|date=11 January 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111185001/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51077897|archive-date=11 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The ambassador was detained on suspicion that he had joined demonstrations against the government; he denied this and clarified that he had attended an event advertised as a vigil, to pay respects to the victims, and had left five minutes after people started chanting. The British government called his arrest a "flagrant violation of international law".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200112-iran-briefly-detains-uk-ambassador-accused-of-taking-part-in-illegal-rally|title=Iran briefly detains UK ambassador accused of taking part in 'illegal' rally|date=12 January 2020|website=France 24|access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112180951/https://www.france24.com/en/20200112-iran-briefly-detains-uk-ambassador-accused-of-taking-part-in-illegal-rally|archive-date=12 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Macaire had been arrested 30 minutes after leaving the vigil he said he had attended, according to ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/uk-ambassador-iran-denies-street-protests-arrest-rob-macaire |title= UK denounces Iran's arrest of ambassador amid protest row. |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 12 January 2020 |access-date= 13 January 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113125345/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/uk-ambassador-iran-denies-street-protests-arrest-rob-macaire |archive-date= 13 January 2020 |url-status= live }}</ref> The following day Macaire was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to explain his presence during the protest.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-uk-ambassador-arrested-tehran-protest-rob-macaire-a9280271.html |title= Iran tensions: UK ambassador to Tehran summoned over 'inappropriate' behaviour after being detained. |date= 12 January 2020 |access-date= 13 January 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113131653/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-uk-ambassador-arrested-tehran-protest-rob-macaire-a9280271.html |archive-date= 13 January 2020 |url-status= live }}</ref> The U.S. has urged the Iranian government to issue the British ambassador a formal apology for disregarding his rights and to reiterate that all the rights of diplomats should be respected.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/iran-arrests-uk-ambassador-us-demands-an-apology-1.68958908 |title= Iran arrests UK ambassador, US demands an apology. |date= 12 January 2020 |access-date= 13 January 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200114005824/https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/iran-arrests-uk-ambassador-us-demands-an-apology-1.68958908 |archive-date= 14 January 2020 |url-status= live }}</ref> == In popular culture == [[Babak Payami]]'s documentary film ''[[752 Is Not a Number]]'' premiered at the [[2022 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tiff-2022-closing-night-and-more-1.6546914 "TIFF announces Mary Harron's Salvador Dali biopic as closing night film"]. [[CBC News]], August 10, 2022.</ref> == See also == *[[The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims]] *[[List of airliner shootdown incidents]] *[[Iran Air Flight 655]] – A misidentified [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B2-203]] which was shot down over the [[Persian Gulf]] by the [[USS Vincennes (CG-49)|USS Vincennes]]. All 290 people on board died. *[[Korean Air Lines Flight 007]] – A [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-230B]] which was shot down over the [[Sea of Japan|Sea Of Japan]] by the [[Soviet Air Forces]] due to being misidentified as spies. All 269 people on board died. *[[Korean Air Lines Flight 902]] – A [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-321B]] which was shot down near [[Murmansk]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russia]] by the [[Soviet Air Forces]] after being diverted off course due to navigational error. 2 out of the 109 occupants on board were killed after the aircraft made an emergency landing on a frozen lake near the border with [[Finland]]. *[[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]] – A [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-2H6ER]] which was shot down near [[Hrabove, Donetsk Oblast|Hrabove, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine]] by Russian controlled forces. All 298 occupants on board died. *[[Siberia Airlines Flight 1812]] – A [[Tupolev Tu-154|Tupolev Tu-154M]] which was shot down over the [[Black Sea]] by the [[Ukrainian Air Force]]. All 78 occupants on board died. *[[List of Iranian aviation accidents and incidents]] *[[List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft]] *[[2019–2020 Iranian protests]] *[[2020 in Iran]] *[[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force]] == Notes == {{notelist}} == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://www.flyuia.com/uk/en/home Information from] Ukraine International Airlines *[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/09/iran-plane-crash-visual-guide A visual guide] *{{YouTube|title=First video of plane crash|id=xhokJrURsBE}} *{{YouTube|title=Second video of plane crash|id=gTTPzTN2WZY}} *{{YouTube|title=Third video of plane crash|id=BoIVkNvluG0}} *{{YouTube|title=CCTV on crash site captured the moment of the accident|id=jfiGDUFE1Yk}} *[https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Iran-CAO-PS752-Initial-Report.pdf CAOI Preliminary Report (in Persian and English)] *[https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2emNac2FNODVBcy9JbW1OMy9iblpyN2x0eVFyaUhiTTZqNApBMGNJWURVc0hBPT0=.pdf CAOI Preliminary Report #2 - 21 Jan 2020 (in Persian and English)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122000920/https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2emNac2FNODVBcy9JbW1OMy9iblpyN2x0eVFyaUhiTTZqNApBMGNJWURVc0hBPT0=.pdf |date=22 November 2020 }} ([https://www.havkom.se/assets/reports/Prelimin%C3%A4r-rapport-2-Irans-s%C3%A4kerhetsutredningsmyndighet-endast-text-p%C3%A5-engelska-L-5_20.pdf Alternate (only in English)]) *[https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eWErSzVqQlh5OTV1bWFnc1JRd0JpWGdQd21LM04rWGNldApTbnM2UGZXcGl3PT0=.pdf CAOI Factual Report - 11 July 2020 (in Persian and English)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116131846/https://www.cao.ir/web/english/investigation-reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eWErSzVqQlh5OTV1bWFnc1JRd0JpWGdQd21LM04rWGNldApTbnM2UGZXcGl3PT0=.pdf |date=16 November 2020 }} *[https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/aviation/2020/a20f0002/report/CAOIRI-recorders-20200823.pdf CAOI PS752 Flight Recorder Read-out] *[https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eUcwc08zbTZtdVlWSWxPanBMdTF6b1FUNUhJamZtekxMTAozbzUvYm9zMUxRPT0=.pdf CAOI PS752 Final Report - 17 March 2021 (in Persian and English)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317140234/https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=RFpLRk5zMTJjRlI1L0NyVEZzbEMvNTVCQXZKSzl2RGtZVlBDNnVFV0d2eUcwc08zbTZtdVlWSWxPanBMdTF6b1FUNUhJamZtekxMTAozbzUvYm9zMUxRPT0=.pdf |date=17 March 2021 }} ([http://avherald.com/files/report_1399-12-27.pdf Alternate] [https://reports.aviation-safety.net/2020/20200108-0_B738_UR-PSR.pdf Alternate #2 (only in English)]) **[https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=cExUbENUa1o4bHQ5citoN3ZlUldnWVRxRmNTTlA4bHEyL1daY3RWUHNkcTFybFJaeHNYc0gwTSs0MEMzcjFjeTl3K1EwRVZ4MDk3NgpvTTJwUkxLRFpRPT0=.pdf Attachments to final report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517145016/https://www.cao.ir/web/accidents/reports?p_p_id=NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_resource_id=getFile&_NetFormGetFile_WAR_NetForm_file=cExUbENUa1o4bHQ5citoN3ZlUldnWVRxRmNTTlA4bHEyL1daY3RWUHNkcTFybFJaeHNYc0gwTSs0MEMzcjFjeTl3K1EwRVZ4MDk3NgpvTTJwUkxLRFpRPT0=.pdf |date=17 May 2021 }} ([http://avherald.com/files/attachment_1399-12-27.pdf Alternate]) {{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2020}} {{Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran}} {{Portal bar|Aviation|Iran|Ukraine}} [[Category:2020 controversies in Iran]] [[Category:2020 disasters in Iran]] [[Category:Aftermath of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani]] [[Category:2020 in international relations]] [[Category:2020 scandals]] [[Category:2020s in Tehran]] [[Category:2020 in Ukraine]] [[Category:2020 in Canada]] [[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 Next Generation]] [[Category:Airliner shootdown incidents]] [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2020]] [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran]] [[Category:History of Tehran Province]] [[Category:Iran–Ukraine relations]] [[Category:Canada–Iran relations]] [[Category:Filmed killings in Asia]] [[Category:January 2020 events in Iran]] [[Category:21st-century aircraft shootdown incidents]] [[Category:Military scandals]] [[Category:Islamic Republic of Iran Army]] [[Category:Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] [[Category:Mass murder in 2020]] [[Category:21st-century mass murder in Iran]] [[Category:2020 murders in Iran]] [[Category:Crime in Tehran]]'