‘Human Error At A Time Of Crisis’ – Iran Admits ‘Unintentionally’ Shooting Down Ukrainian Plane

Riyaz Patel

Iran has admitted that it accidentally shot down a passenger plane on Wednesday, saying human error was behind the deaths of all 176 people on board.

Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 took off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, bound for Kiev, hours after Iran had launched a salvo of rockets at two Iraqi bases hosting US military troops – a response to last week’s killing of top general Qassem Soleimani.

According to an early assessment, the Ukrainian plane was erroneously identified as an incoming cruise missile, which resulted in the tragedy.

Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said those responsible will be punished. “My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families,” the president said in a tweet, offering his “sincerest condolences” over the tragedy.