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A visual guide to the Iran plane crash A visual guide to the Iran plane crash
(about 5 hours later)
Flight came down shortly after take off from airport in Tehran on 8 JanuaryFlight came down shortly after take off from airport in Tehran on 8 January
What happened?What happened?
Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 took off at 6.12am on Wednesday, after nearly an hour’s delay at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. It gained altitude heading west, reaching nearly 8,000ft, according to flight-tracking data.Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 took off at 6.12am on Wednesday, after nearly an hour’s delay at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. It gained altitude heading west, reaching nearly 8,000ft, according to flight-tracking data.
Video footage and eyewitnesses, including the crew of another flight passing above it, depicted the plane engulfed in flames before it crashed into countryside south-west of the Iranian capital at 6.18am, causing a massive explosion.Video footage and eyewitnesses, including the crew of another flight passing above it, depicted the plane engulfed in flames before it crashed into countryside south-west of the Iranian capital at 6.18am, causing a massive explosion.
The aircraft’s black boxes have been recovered, giving investigators access to data and cockpit communications, though some parts of their memory had been damaged in the crash.The aircraft’s black boxes have been recovered, giving investigators access to data and cockpit communications, though some parts of their memory had been damaged in the crash.
Who was on board?Who was on board?
Of the 176 people onboard, 78 were Iranian, 63 were Canadian and 11 were Ukrainian (including nine crew members), along with 10 Swedes, seven Afghans, four Britons and three German nationals. There was some confusion over the nationality of those killed, with many holding dual citizenship.Of the 176 people onboard, 78 were Iranian, 63 were Canadian and 11 were Ukrainian (including nine crew members), along with 10 Swedes, seven Afghans, four Britons and three German nationals. There was some confusion over the nationality of those killed, with many holding dual citizenship.
What was the cause?What was the cause?
The reason for the crash is still under investigation, but western intelligence officials believe the plane, a Boeing 737-800, was accidentally shot down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile fired from a Russian-made Tor-M1 air defence system.The reason for the crash is still under investigation, but western intelligence officials believe the plane, a Boeing 737-800, was accidentally shot down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile fired from a Russian-made Tor-M1 air defence system.
Footage that emerged on 9 January appeared to show the moment the jet was shot down:Footage that emerged on 9 January appeared to show the moment the jet was shot down:
US officials told US media that they had also identified the infrared signature from two suspected missile launches followed shortly afterwards by the infrared blip from the burning and fatally disabled aircraft.US officials told US media that they had also identified the infrared signature from two suspected missile launches followed shortly afterwards by the infrared blip from the burning and fatally disabled aircraft.
Unverified images posted on social media by an Iranian activist earlier in the day showed the remains of what could be a Tor-M1 missile that he claimed was found near the plane’s crash site: Unverified images posted on social media by an Iranian activist earlier in the day showed the remains of what could be a missile from a Tor-M1 system that he said was found near the plane’s crash site:
What is the Tor-M1?
The Tor is a short-range “point defence” system that integrates the missile launcher and radar into a single tracked vehicle. It is designed to be mobile and lethal against targets at altitudes up to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) and at ranges of 12 km (7.5 miles).
Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran in 2007 as part of a $700m contract signed in December 2005. Iran has displayed the missiles in military parades as well. Nato refers to the system as the SA-15 Gauntlet.Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran in 2007 as part of a $700m contract signed in December 2005. Iran has displayed the missiles in military parades as well. Nato refers to the system as the SA-15 Gauntlet.
The Tor is a short-range “point defence” system that integrates the missile launcher and radar into a single tracked vehicle. It is designed to be mobile and lethal against targets at altitudes up to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) and at ranges of 12 km (7.5 miles), according to the Federation of American Scientists.
It is believed the US system that detected the supposed missile launches is the Space Based Infrared System, a network of about ten satellites operated by the US Air Force’s Space Command, first launched in 2011.It is believed the US system that detected the supposed missile launches is the Space Based Infrared System, a network of about ten satellites operated by the US Air Force’s Space Command, first launched in 2011.
What have the Ukrainians and the Iranians said? What have the Iranians and the Ukrainians said?
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on 10 January that he was not ruling out the possibility of a missile strike and that he wanted “international partners” to share data and evidence regarding the crash cause. Iranian officials have rejected the western intelligence assessments, describing them as “scientifically impossible”. A preliminary Iranian investigative report released on 9 January said that the pilots never made a radio call for help and that they were trying to turn the aircraft back for the airport when it went down due to a malfunction.
Iranian officials have rejected the western intelligence assessments, describing them as “scientifically impossible”. A preliminary Iranian investigative report released on 9 January said that the pilots never made a radio call for help and that the aircraft was trying to turn back for the airport when the burning plane went down. Ukraine initially accepted the Iranian explanation, but quickly rowed back. On 10 January President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was not ruling out the possibility of a missile strike.
What sort of plane was it?What sort of plane was it?
The plane was a Boeing 737-800 model, the most popular aircraft in the world, used by airlines from Ryanair to American Airlines. The short-haul plane is the predecessor to the 737 Max, the model that was grounded after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.The plane was a Boeing 737-800 model, the most popular aircraft in the world, used by airlines from Ryanair to American Airlines. The short-haul plane is the predecessor to the 737 Max, the model that was grounded after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
What is the context?What is the context?
The crash occurred a few hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack against Iraqi military bases housing US troops, amid a confrontation with the US over its killing of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a drone strike in Iraq last week.The crash occurred a few hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack against Iraqi military bases housing US troops, amid a confrontation with the US over its killing of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a drone strike in Iraq last week.