11 Jan 2020 | 05:50 AM UTC
Iran: Government official confirms missile shot down Ukraine-bound flight near Tehran January 11 /update 2
Iranian Foreign Minister announces on January 11, that an Iranian missile shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight near Tehran on January 8; an investigation into the incident is ongoing
Event
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif confirmed at around 08:00 (local time) on Saturday, January 11, that an Iranian missile shot down the Ukraine International Airline (UIA) flight heading to Kyiv (Ukraine) that crashed near Tehran in the morning of Wednesday, January 8. Zarif said that the incident was due to "human error" after the plane flew too close to a Revolutionary Guards' military site.
The plane crashed near the Tehran suburb of Parand shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) at approximately 06:12 on Wednesday. None of the 176 passengers and crew members on board survived the crash.
A heightened emergency and security personnel presence is anticipated around the crash site over the coming hours.
Advice
Individuals in Tehran are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid the area of the crash site, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.
