Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country has found out that they ‘unintentionally’ shot down the Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 aboard, after mistaking the aircraft for a hostile, enemy target.
The statement released on Saturday morning blamed ‘human error’ for shooting down the plane on Tuesday.
Specifically, Iranian officials says the aircraft ‘took the flying posture and altitude of an enemy target’ as it neared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base and attending personal didn’t recognize it as a passenger plane.
‘Under these circumstances, because of human error, [the plane] came under fire,’ the statement read, according to the New York Times.
Following the grave mistake, Iran’s government have offered an apology to families.
The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces.
The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials.
Iran had denied for several days that two missiles downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft amid mounting tensions with America.
Iran insisted for several days that their missiles didn’t bring down the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft.
Part of a missile is seen at the crash site. The debris of the Boeing 737 was removed from the crash site near Tehran before Ukrainian investigators arrived, sparking fears of a cover-up. An object, said to be the Ukrainian jetliner flying in sky at the moment of explosion, was also seen.
Ali Rabiei, an Iranian government spokesperson, previously denied that their military downed the crash, even going so far to say it was a ‘big lie’ and the accusations were ‘psychological warfare’ against Tehran.
‘The United States is making the pain of the families worse,’ Rabiei said in a statement.
Officials also pushed back against the Western account, saying the plane would have exploded if it was truly hit by a missile.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani publicly addressed the new findings on Twitter, saying an internal investigation has found the missiles were launched and the country regrets the ‘disastrous mistake.’
‘Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake,’ he wrote.
‘The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences.’
Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran Javad Zarif shared also apologized on behalf of Iran on Twitter, calling it a ‘sad day.’
He wrote: ‘A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: 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.’
On Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled down on the intelligence information that pointed towards missiles being fired.
‘We do believe that it’s likely that the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile,’ Pompeo said during a White House briefing announcing new sanctions against Iran.
‘We’re going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination. It’s important that we get to the bottom of it.’
Pompeo was the first U.S. official to publicly confirm the intelligence judgments.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a full investigation into the matter ‘to be convinced beyond all doubt.’
He said: ‘We recognize that this may have been done accidentally. The evidence suggests very clearly a possible and probable cause for the crash.’
Before Iran’s admission, Trudeau revealed that he met with the Minister of National Defense, Harjit Sajjan, and Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne, to discuss the latest on investigation developments.
A memorial service was held at The University of Windsor on Saturday to honor five students who were among the 63 Canadians killed.
Loved ones gathered at The University of Windsor on Saturday to attend a memorial service dedicated to five students among 63 Canadians, who died in the Ukraine International Airlines flight crash
Below are photos of bodies of the victims as they were laid out in body bags as the crash site was being cleared
Culled from DailyMall UK
