Iran says it ‘unintentionally’ hit Ukranian plane; blames ‘human error’

The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.

My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences. https://t.co/4dkePxupzm

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 11, 2020

The government of Iran admitted that it was them that caused the crashing of a Ukranian passenger plane near Tehran last Wednesday.

According to an Iranian military statement read on state television, the country blamed “human error” for “unintentionally” hitting the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, killing all 176 people on board. The victims were composed of 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukranians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three British nationals.

The incident happened hours after Iran launched missiles at two military bases of the United States located in Iraq.

Iran explained that its military was at “highest level of readiness” amid the heightened tensions with the US when flight PS752 took off from Imam Khomeini Airport and then turned toward a “sensitive military center” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, mistaking it as a “hostile target.”

“In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit,” it said.

Iran has apologized for the incident, adding that it will upgrade its systems so that such “mistakes” will not happen in the future.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also took to Twitter to express their condolences to the victims’ families.

Rouhani tweeted, “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake,” adding that investigations will “continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged Iran’s admission but he insisted that the Middle Eastern country should make “a full admission of guilt.”

“We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels,” Zelenskiy said.

Iran’s statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Thursday, cited “multiple” intelligence sources which indicate that flight PS752 was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.