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Ukrainian passenger plane with more than 170 on board crashes in Iran, no survivors Ukrainian passenger plane with more than 170 on board crashes in Iran, no survivors
(about 1 hour later)
ISTANBUL — A Ukrainian passenger jet with more than 170 people on board crashed in Iran early Wednesday shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, killing all aboard, officials said. MOSCOW — A Ukrainian passenger jet with more than 170 people on board crashed in Iran early Wednesday shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, killing all aboard, officials said.
The Boeing 737 likely crashed due to technical difficulties, Iranian state media quoted Ali Kahshani, a senior public relations official at the airport, as saying.The Boeing 737 likely crashed due to technical difficulties, Iranian state media quoted Ali Kahshani, a senior public relations official at the airport, as saying.
A total of 177 people, comprising 168 passengers and nine crew members, were on board the jet, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said, according to Interfax news agency. A total of 177 people, comprising 168 passengers and nine crew members, were on board the jet, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said, according to Interfax news agency. The flight operated by Ukraine International Airlines was bound for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
The flight operated by Ukraine International Airlines was bound for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. “No one has survived the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines plane and we are collecting the bodies,” Pirhossein Koulivand, Iran’s chief of emergency services, told state television. “All emergency and rescue forces are present at the scene.”
“No one has survived the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines plane and we are collecting the bodies,” Pirhossein Koulivand, Iran’s chief of emergency services, said to the state television broadcaster. “All emergency and rescue forces are present at the scene.” Ukraine’s embassy in Iran said preliminary details pointed to engine failure. It issued a statement ruling out terrorism, but quickly took it down without explanation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that everyone on board died and that Ukraine was trying to establish the circumstances of the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on his Facebook page that he is “personally involved in supervision over all measures to be taken.”
“My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew,” he said in a statement. Zelensky, who was on vacation in Oman, said he was cutting short his trip and returning to Kyiv. Ukraine’s embassy in Iran ruled out terrorism as a factor, saying preliminary details pointed to engine failure. “I implore you all to refrain from speculating and making uncorroborated theories in relation to the plane crash before any official statements are made,” Zelensky said, adding that planes would be dispatched to Tehran to collect the victims’ bodies. He was on vacation in Oman, but cut his trip short to return to Kyiv.
Most of the passengers on board were Iranians; Ukraine’s security council said there were 11 Ukrainians on board, including the nine crew members.
Boeing said on Twitter that it was “aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information.”Boeing said on Twitter that it was “aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information.”
Though the Boeing 737-800, the aircraft involved in Wednesday’s crash, has not been flagged for issues, the newer 737 Max was grounded worldwide last year after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10. It was the second fatal crash of a 737 Max in less than five months. In October 2018, a Lion Air flight crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing all aboard. The aircraft involved in Wednesday’s incident, a Boeing 737-800, was three years old and purchased from the manufacturer as new by Ukraine International Airlines, the carrier said in a statement. It had its last routine technical maintenance on Monday. A flight-data recorder from the plane has been recovered.
Though that aircraft type has not been flagged for issues, the newer 737 Max was grounded worldwide last year after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10. It was the second fatal crash of a 737 Max in less than five months. In October 2018, a Lion Air flight crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing all aboard.
The company’s crisis resulted in the firing of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg two weeks ago.The company’s crisis resulted in the firing of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg two weeks ago.
Wednesday’s crash coincided with Iranian forces launching more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed, in response to an American airstrike that killed the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force. It’s unclear if the events are related, but American passenger airliners have been banned from flying over Iran because of the risk that they could be mistaken as military aircraft. Wednesday’s crash coincided with Iranian forces launching more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed, in response to an American airstrike that killed the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force. American passenger airliners have been banned from flying over Iran because of the risk that they could be mistaken as military aircraft, and Ukraine International Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Tehran.
A video circulating on Twitter that purported to be of the crash showed a distant light against a dark sky descending to the ground before a burst of flames is seen. Another video tweeted by Iran’s Tasnim news agency showed parts of a plane scattered and on fire on the ground. A video circulating on Twitter that purported to be of the crash showed a distant light against a dark sky descending to the ground, followed by a burst of flames. Another video tweeted by Iran’s Tasnim news agency showed parts of a plane scattered and on fire on the ground.
Airlines from the former Soviet Union have a checkered safety record. A small Kazakh airline, Bek Air, passenger jet with 98 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff near Almaty airport in Kazakhstan on Dec. 27, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. A plane operated by Russia’s Aeroflot made a fiery emergency landing in Moscow in May, resulting in 41 deaths, and in 2018, a Saratov Airlines plane crashed just outside Moscow, killing all 71 people on board.Airlines from the former Soviet Union have a checkered safety record. A small Kazakh airline, Bek Air, passenger jet with 98 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff near Almaty airport in Kazakhstan on Dec. 27, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. A plane operated by Russia’s Aeroflot made a fiery emergency landing in Moscow in May, resulting in 41 deaths, and in 2018, a Saratov Airlines plane crashed just outside Moscow, killing all 71 people on board.
Khurshudyan reported from Moscow. Paul Schemm in Dubai contributed to this report. Cunningham reported from Istanbul. Paul Schemm in Dubai contributed to this report.
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