Iran has admitted that they shot down the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800, on the 8th of January 2020, saying human error was the cause of the attack.
According to The New York Times, the aircraft was shot down after ground personnel reacted to a sharp, unexpected turn towards a sensitive military base. Bloomberg adds further detail stating that the aircraft flew near an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military site, citing an army statement.
A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020
Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster
Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.
💔
Iran was quick to report that the aircraft encountered technical problems before it crashed, however, as intelligence agencies from around the world analysed data, it became apparent that a surface-to-air missile system was involved. Admitting the accidental shooting down of the aircraft reverses claims, as recent as Friday, that they hadn’t shot down the aircraft and accused western governments of “psychological warfare”.
Videos published on social media, and confirmed by intelligence officials and reputable media outlets, show the aircraft being struck, catching on fire and then striking the ground. CCTV footage managed to capture the final moments of Flight PS752. More can be found here:
In a statement read on state television, Iran said the responsible parties would be referred to a judicial department, within the military, where they will be held accountable.
Even before Iran admitted they were responsible, governments, including Canadian and American, acknowledged that the aircraft could have been shot down unintentionally.
“We recognize that this may have been done accidentally. The evidence suggests very clearly a possible and probable cause for the crash.”
Canadian President, Justin Trudeau speaking at a news conference in Ottawa (via The New York Times)
This is a developing announcement. More will be added as the story progresses.