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Iran plane crash: Highly likely jet was hit by Iranian missile, leaders say as new video emerges – Sky News, Sky.com

Iran plane crash: Highly likely jet was hit by Iranian missile, leaders say as new video emerges – Sky News, Sky.com


             

Officials in the UK, US, Canada and Australia have said it is highly likely a missile was to blame for the crash of a passenger jet over Iran.

All people on board were killed when theUkraine International Airlines jet crashedon Wednesday, minutes after taking off from the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Among the dead were 87 Iranians,********************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Canadians and four Britons.

  

Rescue teams work at the scene after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. - All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8, Iranian state media reported. State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine InternationalRescue teams work at the scene after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. - All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8, Iranian state media reported. State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine InternationalRescue teams work at the scene after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. - All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on January 8, Iranian state media reported. State news agency IRNA said 167 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft operated by Ukraine International      

Image:
        The scene near Imam Khomeini Airport in the Iranian capital of Tehran after the plane crashed      

     

        

              

                        
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                                                                                             ************ Trudeau: Iran shot down the plane
                

Meanwhile, new footage has emerged that appears to show a missile hitting the plane soon after it took off.

Western leaders believe the jet could have been hit by mistake hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general in an American airstrike.

Iran’s retaliatory action came after a US airstrike killed Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani.

Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau said at a news conference: “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.”

Similar statements were made by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and US President Donald Trump.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was slightly more cautious, saying on Friday that the possibility of the plane having been downed by a missile had not been confirmed or ruled out yet.

  

      

Image:
        Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 – with the registration UR-PSR      

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called for a “full and transparent investigation” into what caused the crash.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, warning Britons against all travel to Iran as well as travel to, from and within the country.

The warning added: “Tension between Iran and other countries could escalate rapidly” and “anger inside Iran is high” following the killing of Maj Gen Soleimani .

“There is a possibility of an increased threat against Western interests and the security situation could worsen with little warning.”

    

        

              

                        
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                                                                                             ************ The Ukrainian passenger plane hits the ground
                

Iran has denied its missiles were responsible for the plane crashing, with government spokesman Ali Rabiei describing the claims as a “psychological warfare against Iran”, according to state TV.

He added: “All those countries whose citizens were aboard the plane can send representatives and we urge Boeing to send its representative to join the process of investigating the black box.”

In the new footage, a ball of fire can be seen coming from left to right – the missile – and the plane is seen more clearly coming from the opposite direction. A few seconds later an explosion can be heard.

    

        

              

                        
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                                                                                             ************ The moment Ukrainian plane comes down in Iran
                

Sky News defense and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the video appeared to be authenticating following verification by investigative journalism website Bellingcat.

He added that western intelligence agencies are “pretty convinced that this aircraft was shot down “.

” What they don’t know is whether it was deliberate or not.

“The working assumption at the moment is that it was an accident and the reason for that is that, of the (on board,Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 with the registration UR-PSR************************************************************************************************************************************ are Iranians.

“So there’s no obvious reason this would be done deliberately … so the feeling was this likely was a tragic accident. “

The video is the latest apparently showing the incide nt.

In one, the Boeing 737 is seen exploding into flames as It tumbles form the sky and crashes into a distant field.

In another, the plane can be seen on fire for several seconds before exploding mid-air and finally bursting into flames as it comes down.

CCTV footage on a dark lane near the crash site is also believed to have captured the passenger plane hitting the ground.

The screen turns white as it crashes before the surrounding area is engulfed with flames, smoke and debris flying in all directions.

    

The is believed to be the moment the Ukrainian passenger plane hits the ground in Iran.(**************************************** Read More************************************* (**********************************