Ukraine International’s B737-800 crashes in Iran, 176 dead
A passenger plane of Ukraine International crashed in Iran this morning shortly after takeoff from Tehran killing all 176 on board.
The circumstances of the crash are not fully known. The Iranian state news media cited technical problems on the plane, which was operating flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv when it disappeared from radar a few minutes after departure at 06:10 am local time.
The disaster happened against the backdrop of the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, resulting in attacks in two bases in Iraq that house American troops yesterday.
It also has the potential to add to the crisis at Boeing, which has been dealing with the fallout from two crashes involving a different jet.
Photos and videos from the crash site showed rescuers in a field littered with plane debris, smoldering fires and the personal belongings of passengers.
The Iranian Students’ News Agency, a state-run media organisation, shared a video which showed the predawn crash, with a distant light descending in the distance before a bright burst filled the sky upon impact.
“The airline expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the air crash and will do everything possible to support the relatives of the victims. With immediate effect, UIA has decided to suspend its flights to Tehran until further notice,” said the airline in a statement.
