Iran has finally admitted to have shot down the Ukrainian plane that left 176 people killed including many of its citizens.
The Government statement blames ‘human error’ for the catastrophic incident. Iran has announced that its military ‘unintentionally’ shot down the Ukrainian jetliner killing all 176 on board.
Iran statement released on Saturday 11th January 2020 blamed human error for the incident adding that the military mistook the Ukrainian Flight 752 for a hostile target.
Quoted by the country’s media (Press TV), Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces was quoted saying that the plane had flown close to a “sensitive military site”.
The General added that the military was at its “highest level of readiness” amid the heightened tensions with the United States.
“In such a condition, because of human error and in a unintentional way, the flight was hit,” the military said. He apologised for the disastrous mistake and said it would upgrade its systems to prevent future tragedies.
In a statement posted on social media, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote that the country deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.
“My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences,” he said, adding that “investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake”.
Iran had denied for several days had that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft.
The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq.
The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and 9 crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, when it was shot down.
