Ukrainian jet that crashed, killing 176, appears to have been shot by Iranian missiles, sources say

A rescue team carries a body 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 on Jan. 8, 2020. - Copyright Nazanin Tabatabaee

By Tom Costello and Mosheh Gains and Ken Dilanian and Janelle Griffith with NBC News World News

Published on 09/01/2020 - 18:18

Comments

The evidence comes from spy satellites, sources said.

U.S. intelligence officials have evidence that the Ukraine International Airlines jetliner that crashed in Iran on Wednesday, killing 176 people, was downed by an Iranian missile, multiple officials told NBC News.

The evidence comes from spy satellites, sources said.

An initial Iranian report released Thursday suggested a sudden emergency struck the Boeing 737 before it went down just moments after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. The report said the crew of the jetliner never made a radio call for helpand were trying to turn back for the airport when the plane went down.

Investigators from Iran's Civil Aviation Organization have offered no immediate explanation for the disaster.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged to discover the "truth" behind the crash, and announced investigators from his country had arrived in Iran to assist in the probe.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Iran originally said that the crash was likely caused by an engine problem. It also ruled out terrorism or a rocket attack as possible causes. However, it later removed that information from its website and said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

Comments