TEHRAN: Iran has admitted its involvement in shooting down a Ukrainian passenger airplane that killed 176 people on board.
Iran in its statement stated that the act was unintentional and termed the downing of the plane as ‘human error’.
Earlier this week, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff a few hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at US forces in Iraq.
Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot it down.
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.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday cited intelligence from Montreal and other sources claimed that the plane was shot down by Iran.
Read more: Trump says Iran appears to be standing down; no US casualties
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