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Iran plane crash: What we know about downed flight PS752 Iran plane crash: What we know about downed flight PS752
(about 4 hours later)
Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 crashed shortly after taking off from the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board. Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 crashed shortly after taking off from the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board.
The reason for the crash, involving one of the international airline industry's most widely used aircraft models, is still under investigation. The reason for the crash involving a Boeing 737-800 - one of the international airline industry's most widely used aircraft models - is under investigation.
Iranian authorities have blamed technical issues, but the crash's timing - just hours after Iran launched missiles at US targets in Iraq - provoked speculation about other possible causes.Iranian authorities have blamed technical issues, but the crash's timing - just hours after Iran launched missiles at US targets in Iraq - provoked speculation about other possible causes.
On Thursday media reports emerged, citing US intelligence officials, that there was evidence it had been shot down. On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said evidence suggested an Iranian missile brought down the aircraft by accident. Dozens of Canadian citizens died in the crash.
Mr Trudeau was echoing earlier reports in US media, which also placed the blame on Iran.
The government in Tehran has ruled out a missile strike by its air defences.
UIA has suspended all flights to and from Iran following the crash, while a number of of major international carriers are diverting flights away from the region's airspace.
The disruption, which some airlines have said will continue until further notice, is expected to lengthen many flight times.
This is what we know so far.This is what we know so far.
What do Iranian authorities say? What do Mr Trudeau and US media say?
At a news conference in Ottawa, Mr Trudeau said: "We have intelligence from multiple sources, including our allies and our own intelligence. The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.
"This may well have been unintentional. This new information reinforces the need for a thorough investigation into this matter.
Mr Trudeau said that Canadian officials must immediately be granted access to Iran to take part in the ongoing investigation.
He said he had already spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who assured him that Kyiv "is taking all necessary measures to ensure a thorough investigation".
Mr Trudeau stressed that the Canadian authorities would not rest until they had obtained closure, transparency and justice.
Earlier on Thursday, reports emerged in US media that Pentagon officials were confident that the aircraft was shot down.
Newsweek, citing Pentagon and Iraqi sources, said it was assessed the strike was probably accidental. CBS News then said US intelligence officials had picked up signals indicating a radar was turned on and two missiles launched.
Rumours of a missile attack were initially fuelled by images circulating online, purportedly from the crash site and nearby.
Among those being shared are two photographs of what appears to be part of a surface-to-air missile.
The photographs were purportedly taken in a residential area near to the crash site, but that information and the images have not in any way been verified.
Open source investigators from Bellingcat, who took an active role in probing the downing of flight MH17 in Ukraine, are among those cautiously looking into the claims and trying to geo-locate the images.
What does Iran say?
An initial report was released by Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation on Thursday.An initial report was released by Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation on Thursday.
It said the Boeing 737-800 suffered a technical problem shortly after take-off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and cited witnesses, including the crew of another passenger plane, that it was on fire prior to impact.It said the Boeing 737-800 suffered a technical problem shortly after take-off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and cited witnesses, including the crew of another passenger plane, that it was on fire prior to impact.
Authorities said they lost radar contact when the plane was at an altitude of about 8,000ft (2,400m), minutes after taking off at 06:12 local time (02:42 GMT).Authorities said they lost radar contact when the plane was at an altitude of about 8,000ft (2,400m), minutes after taking off at 06:12 local time (02:42 GMT).
No radio distress call was made by the pilot, the report said.No radio distress call was made by the pilot, the report said.
"The plane, which was initially headed west to leave the airport zone, turned right following a problem and was headed back to the airport at the moment of the crash," the Iranian aviation authority added. "The plane, which was initially headed west to leave the airport zone, turned right following a problem and was headed back to the airport at the moment of the crash," Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation (CAOI) chief Ali Abedzadeh said.
Mr Abedzadeh added that witnesses saw the plane "on fire" before the crash, and that pilots had not made any distress calls before trying to return to Imam Khomeini airport.
"Several domestic and foreign flights were flying in Iranian space at the same altitude of 8,000ft (2,400m). The issue of the missile's impact on the aircraft cannot be true in any way," he said.
Mr Abedzadeh added that Iran would not hand over the devices to Boeing or to US authorities.
What do Ukraine and airline officials say?
A team of 45 Ukrainian experts arrived in Tehran on Thursday morning to assist Iranian authorities and help with the identification and repatriation of victims.
Oleksiy Danylov, head of Ukraine's national security council, said that four main possible crash causes were being investigated:
On Wednesday, Ukraine's embassy in Tehran had initially cited engine failure for the crash, but soon retracted its statement.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked people to refrain from speculation regarding the crash and insisted "a thorough and independent investigation will be conducted".
UIA said the aircraft was manufactured in 2016 and last underwent scheduled maintenance on Monday.
Founded in 1992, the airline had never suffered a fatal accident before Wednesday.
UIA said there were two pilots and an instructor on board, all of whom were experienced.
Each had spent between 7,600 and 12,000 hours of flight-time on the 737-800 prior to the crash, the airline said.
"Given the crew's experience, error probability is minimal. We do not even consider such a chance," Igor Sosnovsky, vice president of the airline, said.
What do experts say?
Tom Burridge, the BBC's transport correspondent, said the rapid disappearance of tracking data suggested a catastrophic incident occurred.Tom Burridge, the BBC's transport correspondent, said the rapid disappearance of tracking data suggested a catastrophic incident occurred.
Some aviation experts have cast doubt on claims, made shortly after the crash on Iranian state media, that the crash was likely to have been caused by an engine fire.Some aviation experts have cast doubt on claims, made shortly after the crash on Iranian state media, that the crash was likely to have been caused by an engine fire.
Commercial aircraft are designed to be able to withstand - in general - a failed engine and to land safety. Engine maker CFM described Wednesday's speculation over the crash as "premature".Commercial aircraft are designed to be able to withstand - in general - a failed engine and to land safety. Engine maker CFM described Wednesday's speculation over the crash as "premature".
The aircraft's "black boxes", which record flight data and sound within the cockpit, were recovered from the wreckage.The aircraft's "black boxes", which record flight data and sound within the cockpit, were recovered from the wreckage.
Iran's civil aviation chief, Ali Abedzadeh, told national media they would not hand over the devices to Boeing or to US authorities. Flight PS752 was a 737-800 aircraft, the most popular made by the manufacturer with almost 5,000 produced since its 1994 launch.
It is unclear who will carry out the special analysis required of that data. Only a handful of countries are said to have that capability, AFP news agency reports.
What do airline officials say?
Ukraine International Airlines said the aircraft was manufactured in 2016 and last underwent scheduled maintenance on Monday.
Founded in 1992, the airline had never suffered a fatal accident before Wednesday.
Boeing said it was ready to assist in the investigation. Flight PS752 was a 737-800 aircraft, the most popular made by the manufacturer with almost 5,000 produced since its 1994 launch.
It is distinct from Boeing's newer 737 Max model, currently grounded over safety concerns, and does not have the automated system that is thought to have contributed to two deadly crashes involving the Max jets.It is distinct from Boeing's newer 737 Max model, currently grounded over safety concerns, and does not have the automated system that is thought to have contributed to two deadly crashes involving the Max jets.
The 737-800 is generally considered to have a good safety record. Aviation Safety Network, a flight-safety tracking group, say Wednesday's crash is the eighth fatal incident involving the model.The 737-800 is generally considered to have a good safety record. Aviation Safety Network, a flight-safety tracking group, say Wednesday's crash is the eighth fatal incident involving the model.
Harro Ranter, the group's head, told the Wall Street Journal that pilot error was found as the likely cause in all but one of the previous accidents.Harro Ranter, the group's head, told the Wall Street Journal that pilot error was found as the likely cause in all but one of the previous accidents.
Ukraine International Airlines, in a press release detailing staff fatalities, said there were three pilots on board, all of whom were experienced.
Each had spent between 7,600 and 12,000 hours of flight-time on the 737-800 prior to the crash, the airline said.
"Given the crew's experience, error probability is minimal. We do not even consider such a chance," Igor Sosnovsky, vice president of the airline, said.
How is it being investigated?How is it being investigated?
Under international protocol, the country where a plane crashed usually leads the investigation.Under international protocol, the country where a plane crashed usually leads the investigation.
As the aircraft was made in the US, officials including the country's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), would typically participate in any inquiry but political tensions have cast doubt on this possibility.As the aircraft was made in the US, officials including the country's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), would typically participate in any inquiry but political tensions have cast doubt on this possibility.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the US "stands prepared to offer Ukraine all possible assistance". Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, has said it is ready to assist in the investigation, but Iran says it will not hand over the recovered black box flight recorders to the company or the US authorities.
Canada's foreign minister has also called his Iranian counterpart to stress Canada's desire to help the investigation. So, it is still unclear who will carry out the special analysis required of that data.
A team of 45 Ukrainian experts arrived in Tehran on Thursday morning to assist Iranian authorities and help with the identification and repatriation of victims. Who were the victims?
Oleksiy Danylov, head of Ukraine's national security council, said on Facebook that they wanted to examine all potential causes of the crash - including the possibility of foul play. Among the victims were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians including all nine crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons and three Germans, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said. Fifteen of the dead were children.
Suspicion of this was fuelled on Wednesday when a statement by Ukraine's Tehran embassy, initially citing engine failure for the crash, was retracted hours later. But the German government later said "we currently have no knowledge that German citizens are among the victims of the plane crash in Iran".
On Thursday reports emerged in US media that Pentagon officials were confident that the aircraft was shot down. And UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that four British nationals were on board.
Newsweek, citing Pentagon and Iraqi sources, said it was assessed the strike was probably accidental. CBS News then said US intelligence officials had picked up signals indicating a radar was turned on and two missiles launched.
Rumours of a missile attack were initially fuelled by images circulating online, purportedly from the crash site and nearby.
Among those being shared are two photographs of what appears to be part of a surface-to-air missile.
The photographs were purportedly taken in a residential area near to the crash site, but that information and the images have not in any way been verified.
Open source investigators from Bellingcat, who took an active role in probing the downing of flight MH17 in Ukraine, are among those cautiously looking into the claims and trying to geo-locate the images.
A spokesman for Iran's armed forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, has strongly denied that military action was behind the crash - describing the allegations as "propaganda" and "ridiculous".
Mr Abedzadeh said that other domestic and foreign flights were airborne at the same time and said allegations of missile use "cannot be true".
"There is full collaboration among all military and non-military departments in Iran and at the time of the crash, tens of Iranian and foreign planes were flying over Iran's safe space," he said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has also asked people to refrain from speculation regarding the crash and insisted "a thorough and independent investigation will be conducted in accordance with international law".
Security sources in a number of international intelligence agencies, citied anonymously, had told Reuters that their initial assessments support the assertion that the flight suffered some form of technical malfunction and was not brought down.
Nonetheless, a number of major international carriers, including Qantas and KLM, diverted flights away from the region's airspace following the crash.
One British Airways flight, bound for London from Mumbai, was suddenly diverted to Athens on Wednesday because of the unexpected route change.
The disruption, which some airlines have said will continue until further notice, is expected to lengthen many flight times.