Iran Says Misaligned Radar And Human Error To Blame For Downing Of Ukrainian Airliner

FOX News: Iran blames Ukrainian jetliner shootdown on miscommunication, misaligned missile battery

The plane, en route to Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries.

A report released Saturday by Iran's Civil Aviation Organization blames the shootdown of a Ukrainian jetliner on a misaligned missile battery and miscommunication between troops and their commanders.

The report comes months after the Jan. 8 crash near Tehran that killed all 176 people on board. Authorities had initially denied responsibility but changed course days later after Western nations presented extensive evidence that Iran had shot down the plane.

Read more ....

More News On Iran Blaming A Misaligned Radar And Human Error For Downing Of Ukrainian Airliner

Iran Says Misaligned Radar, Human Error To Blame For Downing Of Ukrainian Airliner -- RFE
Iran plane crash: 'Human error' to blame for downing of Ukrainian jet -- BBC
Iran Says Forgetful Operator Helped Trigger Ukraine Jet Crash -- Bloomberg
Iran blames communication, missile battery alignment for shooting down Ukrainian jet -- The Hill
Iranian Report Details Chain Of Mistakes In Shooting Down Ukrainian Passenger Plane -- NPR
Iran says Ukraine passenger jet downed due to radar 'misalignment' -- Middle East Monitor
Iran blames bad communication and missile misalignment for shooting down passenger plane -- ABC News Online
Iran Says Radar Operator "Forgot" To Make Crucial Adjustment, Leading To Airline Downing -- Zero Hedge

World Marks 100 Days Since The Iranian Downing Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

General view of the debris of the Ukraine International Airlines, flight PS752, Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed after take-off from Iran’s Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran Jan. 8, 2020 is seen in this screen grab obtained from a social media video (REUTERS)

Radio Canada: Ottawa vows ‘relentless pursuit of justice’ as world marks 100 days of PS752

Canadian officials are pledging to be “relentless” in their pursuit of justice for the victims and families of downed Flight 752 as they mark 100 days since the crash that killed all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadians.

The Ukraine International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kyiv was brought down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport on Jan. 8.

“On behalf of the government of Canada, we extend our deepest condolences to the families grieving this terrible tragedy. We grieve with you,” Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said in a joint statement.

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WNU Editor: In a sign that Iran is trying to avoid any legal responsibility, they are seeking legal immunity .... Canada, Ukraine reject report Iran seeking legal immunity for fatal plane crash (Global News).

Iran Will Not Hand Over The Black Box Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

The crate containing purportedly the two black boxes recovered from the crashed Ukrainian airliner, Boeing 737-800, is seen in this still image taken from a video, in Tehran, Iran January 10, 2020.IRIB VIA WANA/Handout via REUTERS

Reuters: Iran won't hand over 'damaged' black box of Ukraine plane: ministers

DUBAI (Reuters) - The black box of a Ukrainian passenger plane accidentally shot down over Iran last month is damaged but Iran will not hand it over to another country despite pressure for access, top Iranian ministers said on Wednesday, according to state media.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week he had “impressed upon” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that a complete and independent investigation into the shooting down of the airliner had to be carried out.

Many of the 176 who perished in the disaster were Iranians with dual citizenship, which is not recognized by Iran. Canada had 57 citizens on board.

“We have a right to read the black box ourselves. We have a right to be present at any examination of the black box,” Zarif said.

“If we are supposed to give the black box to others for them to read it in our place then this is something we will definitely not do,” he said.

Defense Minister Amir Hatami said the flight data recording box had “sustained noticeable damage and the defense industry has been requested to help in reconstructing (it).”

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WNU Editor: Cannot say that I am surprised.

Iran Has Offered To Pay The Families Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 US$80,000 To Each Victim's Family

Reuters

UNIAN: Zelensky: Iran's offer to pay US$80,000 to PS752 victims' families rejected

Ukraine will be pushing for larger payouts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Iran offered to pay US$80,000 to the families of those killed in the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) passenger jet near Tehran, but that offer was rejected. "They immediately offered US$80,000 to each victim's family, but we didn't agree to this. It seems to me this isn't enough. When a victim's widow says her husband had been feeding the family, while she has no job and still has to get her kid to a university, US$80,000 is not enough. Although, of course, human life can't be measured by any money, but we'll be pushing for larger payouts," Zelensky has told the TSN-Tyzhden TV weekly program.

Zelensky added Ukraine would file a lawsuit with an international court.

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Update: Ukraine wants larger compensation for its citizens killed in plane shootdown in Iran (Reuters)

WNU Editor: I am surprised that Iran has offered any money, let alone $80,000.

Ukraine President: Recordings Show Iran Knew Immediately That A Jetliner Was Hit By A Missile

The Guardian: Iran knew from start it had shot down jet, says Ukrainian president

Volodymyr Zelenskiy says leaked audio proves Iran knew what happened to flight 752

A leaked recording of conversation between an Iranian pilot and a control tower prove that Iran immediately knew it had shot down a passenger jet that crashed near Tehran last month, Ukraine’s president has said.

An audio recording obtained by Ukrainian media on Sunday evening purportedly captures a conversation between an Iranian pilot coming in to land at Tehran’s international airport and a control tower there on 8 January, shortly after Ukraine International Airways flight 752 had departed from Tehran.

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WNU Editor: Iran has responded to this leak by refusing to cooperate with Ukraine .... Iran not sharing evidence from airline crash with Ukraine after audio leak- Iran official (Reuters). More here .... Iran stops sharing data on downed Ukrainian plane with Kiev after control tower audio leaked to local media (RT)

More News On the Ukraine President Saying That Recordings Show Iran Knew Immediately That A Jetliner Was Hit By A Missile

'A series of lights... it's a missile': Leaked recording of Iranian pilot's exchange with air-traffic control proves officials immediately knew Ukrainian jet was shot down, despite denials -- Daily Mail
Ukraine: Recordings show Iran knew jetliner hit by a missile -- AP
Recording shows Iran knew immediately it had shot down plane: Zelenskiy -- Reuters
Iran no longer sharing evidence on Ukraine airliner crash with Kiev after audio leak -- France 24
Iran plane downing: Tehran ends co-operation with Ukraine -- BBC
Iran knew it shot down plane, Ukraine says -- DW
Iran immediately knew Ukrainian jetliner had been hit by a missile, recordings show -- ABC News Online
Leaked recording shows Iran knew its missiles hit Ukrainian plane -- Al Jazeera
Leaked recording suggests Iran immediately knew it shot down airliner -- UPI

Iran's Military Knew It Accidentally Shot Down A Passenger Plane Moments After It Happened

Debris of the Ukraine International Airlines plane that crashed after taking off from the airport near Tehran on Wednesday. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Business Insider: Iran's military knew it accidentally shot down a passenger plane moments after it happened, and a stunning new report details how it was covered up — even from Iran's president

* On January 8, a passenger plane carrying 176 people crashed outside of Tehran, in Iran. Everyone on board was killed in the crash.
* The plane was shot down by two antiaircraft missiles fired, by mistake, by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Iran's military was on high alert in early January after the United States ordered a drone strike in Iraq that killed Iranian military commander general Qassem Soleimani.
* According to a new report in the New York Times, Iran knew that it had accidentally fired on the aircraft immediately — but the country's Revolutionary Guards hid the truth for days, even from Iran's president Hassan Rouhani.

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, carrying 176 people, crashed in Iran on January 8. Everyone on board was killed in the crash.

The cause of the crash, Iran's government initially reported, was unknown. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps — a military division that answers directly to the country's supreme leader — suggested a potential mechanical failure on the Boeing 737 plane involved.

But days later, following claims from multiple foreign governments suggesting the plane was shot down, Iran admitted its mistake: A Revolutionary Guards soldier, on high alert in the wake of the US-ordered drone strike on Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, accidentally fired two antiaircraft missiles at the passenger flight.

That's according to a new piece in the New York Times on Sunday, which reports that Iran's Revolutionary Guards knew it had made the mistake immediately after the missiles were fired.

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WNU Editor: It was Iran's Revolutionary Guards who shot down the plane, and they are answerable to to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As far as they are concerned, they did their job by notifying their superior on what had happened. I can also understand why the IRG wanted this information kept secret .... they did not want their anti-aircraft operators to have any doubts on doing their job. The question that needs to be asked is why did Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decide to keep this information secret from his President.

Iran Confirms Ukrainian Airliner Was Shot Down By Two Tor-M1 Missiles

File image of a Tor-1 missile system similar to the one that was fired at the Ukrainian airliner

Daily Mail: Iran confirms Ukrainian airliner was shot down by two Tor-M1 missiles as preliminary report into disaster is released

Iran has confirmed the Ukrainian airliner was shot down by two Tor-M1 missiles
Confirms video footage appearing to show projectiles being fired at the plane
The Ukraine International Airlines plane shot down in error killing 176 people

Iran's civil aviation authority has confirmed two Tor-M1 missiles were fired at a Ukrainian airliner that was brought down earlier this month.

A preliminary report into the disaster which killed all 176 passengers on board the plane was posted on its website late Monday.

'Investigators... discovered that two Tor-M1 missiles... were fired at the aircraft,' it said, adding an investigation was ongoing to assess the bearing their impact had on the accident.

Read more ....

More News On Iran Confirming That The Ukrainian Airliner Was Shot Down By Two Tor-M1 Missiles

Iran acknowledges Russian-made missiles targeted Ukraine jet -- SCMP/AP
Iran confirms it fired two missiles at Ukrainian plane -- France 24
Iran plane crash: Tor-M1 missiles fired at Ukraine jet -- BBC
Iran admits Russian-made missiles struck Ukrainian passenger plane -- FOX News
Iran Says Two 'Proximity Missiles' Brought Down Ukrainian Airliner -- Radio Farda
Iran confirms two missiles fired at downed Ukrainian airliner -- Al Jazeera

Iran Will Not Send Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752's Black Boxes To Overseas Investigators

The crate containing purportedly the two black boxes recovered from the crashed Ukrainian airliner, Boeing 737-800, is seen in this still image taken from a video, in Tehran, Iran January 10, 2020. IRIB VIA WANA/Handout via REUTERS

ABC News Online: Iran aborts plan to send black boxes of downed Ukranian plane to overseas investigators

Iran appears to have backtracked on its promise to send the flight recorders from a downed Ukranian jet it shot down for overseas analysis — a day after officials said they would be sent to Kiev.

Hassan Rezaeifar, head of the accident investigations unit of Iran's civil aviation authority, was quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency on Sunday (local time) as saying, "the flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out".

He said Iran was working to recover the data and cabin recordings, and that it may send the flight recorders — commonly known as black boxes — to Ukraine or France.

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Update #1: Iran backtracks on plans to send black boxes from downed jet to Ukraine (DW)
Update #2: Iran to keep black box from downed Ukrainian passenger jet as victims' bodies are returned home (Washington Examiner)

WNU Editor: I cannot say that I am surprised that they have decided to not send the black boxes to outside investigators. They cannot been seen losing control of the narrative, especially now with the current unrest in Iran.

Iran Military Is Suggesting That US Disruption Of Iran's Radar Network And Cyber-Attacks Is What Caused The Ukraine Passenger Jet To Crash

Body bags after Ukrainian plane crash outside Tehran. January 8, 2020

RFE: Iran Military Suggests US Disruption Of Radar Caused Downing Of Airliner Despite New Video

Several high-ranking officials have made statements about possible American "disruption of Iran's radar network" and "cyberattacks" that appear to be in preparation of a new official scenario to explain the missile attack on a Ukrainian airliner on January 8.

Ahmad Jannati, the hardliner Chairman of the Guardian Council on Wednesday said the possibility of "enemy sabotage" is being investigated by authorities.

Brigadier General Ali Abdollahi, the Coordinating Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces General Headquarters, on Wednesday said a team has been formed to probe the possibility of an American cyberattack that could have disabled the Iranian radar system.

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Update: Iran probing possible U.S. disruption in radar system that caused the downing of Ukrainian plane: military (Tehran Times).

WNU Editor: No one is going to buy this excuse.

New Video Emerges Shows Two Missiles Striking Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Daily Mail: New footage shows the moment Iranian missiles are fired at a passenger jet killing 176 people as the commander responsible holds awkward meeting with the bereaved families

* CCTV footage four miles from military base shows missiles being fired at jet
* Two missiles struck the passenger killing all 176 people on board last week
* Commander responsible met bereaved family of a victim on Tuesday night
* Iran has made arrests after initially denying culpability which sparked protests

New CCTV footage has revealed the moment two Iranian missiles were fired at a Ukrainian passenger jet killing all 176 aboard shortly after it took off from Tehran.

It shows the first missile tearing across the horizon last Wednesday and exploding against the fuselage before a second follows in its wake.

The Boeing 737 can then be seen descending in a ball of flame which grows larger as it plummets towards the ground. The footage obtained by The New York Times was filmed on a rooftop camera around four miles away from the base which Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed fired the rockets.

On Tuesday night Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, responsible for the country's missiles, held stilted meetings with the bereaved family of one of the victims of the strike.

Read more ....

More News On A New Video Emerging that Shows Two Missiles Striking Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

New video shows two Iranian missiles hit Ukraine plane in Iran - NYT -- Reuters
Ukraine plane struck by two missiles: NYT -- AFP
New Iran plane crash video shows 2 missiles hit Ukrainian jet -- FOX News
New Video Shows Moment Ukrainian Airlines Plane Is Hit by Two Missiles in Iran -- Epoch Times
New video shows that 2 missiles struck the Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran -- Business Insider

Iran Claims to Have Arrested Several People Involved In The Crash Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Daily Mail: Iran arrests several people over missile strike that brought down Ukrainian passenger jet as Hassan Rouhani vows to punish those responsible

* Iranian judiciary spokesman said 'some individuals' were arrested over the crash
* President Hassan Rouhani said the shoot-down was an 'unforgivable error'
* The regime's initial denials and subsequent admission have sparked protests

Iran said today it has arrested several people over the erroneous missile strike which brought down a passenger jet last week.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said 'some individuals' had been detained after 'extensive investigations', without saying how many.

Esmaili also described British ambassador Rob Macaire - who was briefly arrested at the weekend for attending an anti-regime protest - an 'undesirable element' and said he expects him to be expelled from the country.

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WNU Editor: Apparently the person who videotaped the missile striking the Ukrainian passenger jet and posting it online has been arrested. The identities of the others are still not known.

More News On Iran Claiming to Have Arrested Several People Involved In The Crash Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Iran makes arrests in downing of Ukrainian jet as Rouhani vows to punish those involved -- France 24
Iran plane downing: 'Several people detained' over airliner loss -- BBC
Iran announces first arrests in downing of Ukrainian airliner -- Al Jazeera
Iran announces arrests over plane crash as Rouhani warns those responsible will be punished -- CNN
Iran arrests several over shootdown of Ukrainian airliner -- UPI
Iran vows to punish those responsible for downing Ukrainian plane -- DW

World Leaders React To Iran Admitting That It Downed Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

DW: Germany, world leaders react after Iran admits downing plane by 'mistake'

Ukraine's President Zelenskiy demanded Iran pay compensation and a full investigation over the downing of the Ukrainian passenger jet, while Germany called for measures to prevent such a disaster in the future.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday said Ukraine expected a full investigation and compensation from Iran, after Tehran said it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 people board.

After mounting international pressure, Iran earlier on Saturday voiced regret over firing at the passenger plane in "error" amid heightened US tensions.

Iran had initially denied bringing down the aircraft.

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WNU Editor: Russian social media and media commentators have been critical of the Iranian admission. Canadian PM Trudeau has been the most vocal in expressing outrage over this tragedy .... BREAKING NEWS: Justin Trudeau casts doubt on Iran's claim that shooting down of passenger jet was an 'accident' as he demands justice and compensation for families of 57 Canadian victims (Daily Mail) But Trudeau's anger pales in comparison to what many in Iran are now feeling .... Protesters in Tehran clash with riot police as they demand the Ayatollah RESIGNS and call for regime change after Iran finally admits to shooting down jet and killing 176 people (Daily Mail).

Iranian News Coverage On Their Government's Admission That They Shot Down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

TEHRAN – Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said on Saturday that after he became “confident” that the Ukrainian passenger plane had been shot down erroneously by the Iranian air defense system “I wished death”.

Tehran Times: ‘I wished death’ after realizing Ukrainian passenger plane had been mistakenly shot down: IRGC Aerospace Force chief

The passenger plane, with 179 people aboard, was mistakenly downed on Wednesday morning. It happened a few hours after Iran fired dozens of missiles at the U.S. airbase inside Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3.

Hajizadeh said he was in western Iran when the incident happened.

“I will accept all the responsibilities for this incident,” he told a press conference.

He added, “We will obey any decision by officials.”

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WNU Editor: The Iranian government is admitting that they shot down the plane, but are blaming the US for why it was shot down .... US bears full responsibility for the tragic downing of Ukraine airliner: Analyst (Press TV).

Update: More details are beginning to emerge. The missile was launched from a base used by the IRGC to develop ballistic missiles.

Update #2: The official Iranian Armed Forces statement .... Ukrainian civil airliner downed due to human error: Armed Forces statement (Tehran Times).

More On Iranian News Coverage On Their Government's Admission That They Shot Down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Ukrainian civil airliner downed due to human error -- MEHR News Agency
Iran: Ukrainian plane brought down 'due to human error' -- Press TV
Iran Armed Forces: Ukrainian Jetliner Downed Due to Human Error -- Tasnim News Agency

We accept full responsibility for Ukrainian plane crash: IRGC Aerospace chief -- Press TV
IRGC Aerospace Chief: Ukrainian Jetliner Mistaken for Cruise Missile -- Tasnim News Agency
IRGC Aerospace chief elaborates on Ukrainian plane mishap -- MEHR News Agency

Leader orders probe into passenger plane crash -- Tehran Times
Iran Leader ordered swift release of Ukraine plane downing details: Report -- Press TV
Ayatollah Khamenei Orders Iran Armed Forces to Probe into Plane Crash -- Tasnim News Agency
Leader urges Armed Forces to look for probable culpabilities in unintentional downing of Ukrainian plane -- MEHR News Agency

Iran President ‘Deeply Regrets’ Unintentional Downing of Ukrainian Plane -- Tasnim News Agency
Rouhani: Investigations will continue to prosecute those involved in plane crash -- Tehran Times
Those responsible for unforgivable mistake to be prosecuted: Rouhani -- MEHR News Agency

Human Error at Time of Crisis Caused by US Adventurism Led to Disaster: Iran’s Zarif -- Tasnim News Agency
Zarif blames ‘US adventurism’ over tragic plane incident, offers apologies -- Tehran Times

Iran’s justice orders military court to conduct immediate probe into plane crash -- Press TV
Iran Judiciary Chief Orders Investigation into Downing of Ukrainian Plane -- Tasnim News Agency
Iranian Speaker Urges Probe into Human Error behind Downing of Plane -- Tasnim News Agency
Larijani requires affiliated organizations to address Ukrainian plane incident on top agenda -- MEHR News Agency

New Video From Iran Emerges Showing The Missile That Was Fired At Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

#BREAKING New footage shows the moment which the missile fired in the direction of the Ukrainian plane in #Iran pic.twitter.com/FyKXv1V53A

— Guy Elster (@guyelster) January 11, 2020

Sputnik: Alleged Video of Moment Missile Fired at Doomed Ukrainian Plane Released

On Saturday, the Iranian Guards Corps Troops announced they had taken down Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane en route from Tehran to Kiev, mistaking it for a missile. At the same time Ukrainian authorities have called on Iran to take full responsibility for the incident that claimed 176 lives.

A new video allegedly showing a moment the missile that hit a Ukrainian airliner was launched has been making round on the internet. Posted by Foreign affairs editor of Walla News, Guy Elster, the footage shows what seems to be a missile firing that is filmed during the night at a parking lot. Mere seconds after the launch, the night sky gets flashed.

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WNU Editor: Even with most international airlines now boycotting Iran unless they provid answers on what caused the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, I am still surprised that the Iranian government came clean this quickly on admitting that it was responsible for the shooting down of this passenger jet. If Iran is sincere that they are going to investigate and punish those who are responsible for this tragedy, the families can then have at least some closure.

Iran Has Officially Acknowledged That It Accidentally Shot Down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Daily Mail: Iran finally ADMITS shooting down Ukrainian jetliner: Tehran says military 'unintentionally' fired missiles at Boeing 737 and killed 176 on board because they thought the plane was an 'enemy target'

* Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country 'unintentionally' shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard
* 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
* Iran has since blamed 'human error' for shooting down the plane on Tuesday. The government also offered an apology to families.
* 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
* On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that American lives were possibly saved after it issued a notice barring U.S. civilian planes from flying over Iran and Iraq

Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country 'unintentionally' shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard, after mistaking the aircraft for a hostile, enemy target.

The statement came Saturday morning, local time, and 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.

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WNU Editor: As mentioned in a previous post. Iran had no choice. If they tried to cover this up no airline in the world would then fly into Iran. They had to come clean, and to do so quickly.

More News On Iran Officially Acknowledging That It Accidentally Shot Down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

Iran acknowledges accidentally downing Ukrainian jetliner -- AP
Iran acknowledges accidentally downing Ukrainian jetliner -- France 24
Iran says military shot down plane in error, after denial drew scrutiny abroad -- Reuters
Iran plane crash: Ukrainian jet was 'unintentionally' shot down -- BBC
Iran admits shooting down Ukrainian airliner 'unintentionally' -- The Guardian
Iran Says It Unintentionally Shot Down Ukrainian Airliner -- The New York Times
Iran admits 'unintentionally' shooting down Ukrainian airliner -- DW
Iran blames human error for 'unintentionally' shooting down Ukrainian plane -- ABC News Online
'Disastrous mistake': Iran admits it shot down Ukrainian plane -- Al Jazeera
Iran’s Rouhani vows to ‘identify & prosecute’ all responsible for ‘disastrous mistake’ that led to Ukrainian jet downing -- RT

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 -- News Updates January 10, 2020

Daily Mail: Has the cover up begun? Iran CLEARS debris from plane crash site with bulldozers before investigators even arrive after condemning 'big US lie' they shot the jet down and insisting Tehran will 'handle' black box data

* Debris from the Boeing 737 which crashed with 176 on board has been removed from the crash site in Iran
* Ukrainian Foreign Minister revealed Friday that Ukraine has been granted access to the plane's black box
* Tehran has indicated that it will not allow the US to analyse the flight recorders recovered from the plane
* US, Canada and other Western countries believe the passenger plane was shot down by two Iranian missiles
* Footage showed the Ukraine International Airlines jet exploding with 176 passengers and crew on board
* Iran angrily denied the West's missile claims today, calling them 'psychological warfare' and a 'big lie'

Iran has bulldozed the crash site where a passenger jet came down two days ago, sparking fears of a cover-up after Tehran today denied the West's 'big lie' that Iranian missiles shot down the plane.

It comes as Ukraine has been granted access to the plane's black box flight recorders, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Friday.

He added that they were receiving 'full cooperation' from the Iranian authorities. Kiev sent around 50 experts to Iran to take part in the probe after the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 went down near Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Iran has to come clean on this. If they do not no civilian airline is going to send their planes into Iran. Case in point .... Germany's Lufthansa scraps Tehran flights until January 20th (The Local).

Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 -- News Updates January 10, 2020

The Latest: Ukraine looks at terrorism as cause of crash -- AP
Iran denies missile downed Ukrainian plane -- AFP
Iran plane crash: Tehran rebuffs claims it shot down Ukrainian jet -- BBC
Iran denies Canada's claims a Ukraine International Airlines flight was shot down in Tehran, so what do we know about the PS752 crash? -- ABC News Online
Iranian officials say it's 'impossible' Ukrainian jetliner was downed by missile -- UPI
Iran denies 'with certainty' US, Canada intel that missile downed Ukraine plane: What we know -- USA Today
Iran to probe black boxes after missile blamed for plane crash -- Reuters
Rare FOOTAGE shows Ukrainian Boeing crash site in Tehran after ‘site bulldozed’ claims (PHOTOS) -- RT
Iran invites Boeing to take part in probe into Ukrainian jetliner crash that killed 176 people -- Daily Mail
Iran crash and missile claims put Ukraine president in bind -- AP
Ukraine calls on Western powers to share intelligence on plane crash -- DW
Mike Pompeo publicly blames Iran for shooting down Ukrainian plane saying it is 'likely' the Boeing 737 was downed by a missile near Tehran -- Daily Mail
Pompeo confirms Iran suspected in plane crash -- Politico
Iran may have shot down Ukrainian passenger plane: NATO chief -- Reuters
Russia says no grounds to blame Iran for Ukrainian plane crash: TASS -- Reuters
Crash of PS752 in Iran: Was the aircraft shot down? -- AFP
Iran plane crash: What's the evidence a missile shot down the Ukrainian plane? -- BBC

Iran Wants Ukraine To Pay For The Damage Caused By The Crash Of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752

#UPDATE
Hassan Rezaeifar, head of Iran's air crash investigation committee:
"The Ukrainians must hand over the plane's insurance document to us & compensate for all the damages caused!"

Me:
Disgusting. Another reason why I say the regime in #Iran is absolute filth. pic.twitter.com/mtaDCyRz3C

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) January 10, 2020

WNU Editor: I have not verified this story. It is coming from Twitter. But when it comes to Iran nothing surprises me anymore.

A Lot Must Have Gone Wrong For Iran To Shoot Down A Ukrainian Passenger Airline

Warzone/The Drive: Let's Talk About How Iran Could Have Shot Down A 737 Full Of Innocent People

A lot had to of gone wrong to get us to this point and not just with a surface to air missile battery.

The tragic loss of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, a Boeing 737-800 with 176 souls on board, increasingly appears to have been a horrific mistake. Video of the airliner careening into the ground ablaze at around 6:12AM local time on January 8th, 2020 has permeated news headlines. It has also served as an unexpected and horrific aftershock to the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on U.S. forces in Iraq that occurred just a few hours prior. Many are asking how an airliner taking off normally from a major international airport located on the outskirts of a capital city could simply be swatted out of the sky. Clearly, nobody has the complete answer to that question at this time, but there is certainly a lot to comprehend and ponder until we do.

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WNU Editor: The only ones who know for sure on what caused this Ukrainian passenger jet to be shot down are the Iranians themselves. And they are not talking. But considering how dysfunctional the country is, and the above explanation by Tyler Rogoway, it is not hard to understand why this plane was shot down. Bottom line. Bad communications. Inadequately trained personnel. Lower end weapons. Wrong people in the wrong place making the wrong decision.

Is President Trump To Blame For The Ukraine Plane Crash?

Passengers' bodies in plastic bags are pictured at the crash site on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA

Newsweek: Democratic Rep Blames Trump for 'Collateral Damage' of Ukraine Plane Crash, Urges Diplomacy With Iran Rather Than Military Strikes

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) claimed Thursday that President Donald Trump could be to blame for the fatal crash of a Ukraine passenger jet in Iran on Wednesday, due to "collateral damage" caused by his "provocative" killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

Speier made the remarks during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on the Thursday edition of his show The Situation Room. The congresswoman confirmed that she had heard classified details concerning the claim by U.S. officials that the plane was accidentally brought down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile strike. She insisted Trump would be responsible for the crash if the claim proves to be true.

"If what is being projected is true, this is yet another example of collateral damage from the actions that have been taken in a provocative way by the president of the United States," Speier said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I watched this news conference on Thursday. It was nutty .... CBC journalists try to blame Trump for Ukrainian plane crash (True North).

More News On President Trump Critics Blaming Him For The Ukraine Crash

Pete Buttigieg is blasted for suggesting America's 'tit for tat' exchange with Iran caused the missile attack on the Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 passengers after it was mistaken for a 'US bomber' -- Daily Mail
Iran plane crash: Social media users quick to place blame -- Global News
We’re Just Discovering the Price of Killing Soleimani -- David Frum, The Atlantic
Trump Critics Blame Him For Iran Reportedly Shooting Down Ukrainian Plane -- Daily Caller
West Backs Off of Blaming Iran Despite Crash Evidence -- US News and World Report

Iran Has Invited The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board To Participate In The Crash Of Ukraine Passenger Jet

Red Crescent workers check plastic bags at the site where the Ukraine International Airlines plane crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8. The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800, en route to Kiev and carrying mostly Iranians and Iranian-Canadians, fell to earth in a fireball shortly after take-off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA

Reuters: U.S. to join probe of jet disaster, no missile link: Iran official

PARIS (Reuters) - Iran has invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to take part in its investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian jetliner and the U.S. agency has agreed to assign an investigator, an Iranian official said on Thursday.

“The NTSB has replied to our chief investigator and has announced an accredited representative,” Farhad Parvaresh, Iran’s representative at the International Civil Aviation Organization, part of the United Nations, told Reuters.

The NTSB declined comment.

A person briefed on the matter confirmed the NTSB had agreed to take part but said it was unclear what if anything its representative would be able to do under U.S. sanctions.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Iran does not have a choice. No airline in the world is going to fly into Iran unless this is resolved.