Iran admits ‘unintentionally’ shooting down Ukrainian plane

Addis Ababa, January 11, 2020 (FBC) -Iran has admitted “unintentionally” shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people on board.

An investigation found that “missiles fired due to human error”, President Hassan Rouhani said.

He described the crash as an “unforgivable mistake”.

The military said the jet flew close to a sensitive site belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and was then mistaken for a hostile aircraft.

Iran previously rejected suggestions that it was responsible for the crash.

The downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, on Wednesday, came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq.

The strikes were a response to the killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January.

Iran initially denied reports that one of its missiles had brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran.

The Ukrainian flight, which was en route to Kyiv, came down near Imam Khomeini Airport shortly after take-off.

Victims included dozens of Iranians and Canadians, as well as nationals from Ukraine, the UK, Afghanistan and Germany.

Source: BBC