Iran admits to shooting down plane unintentionally: Live updates - CNN International

Iran Press via AFP

The black box recordings of the downed Ukrainian airliner will be downloaded in France, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization’s Accident Investigation board said on Saturday, according to state media.

Although Iran made use of all its facilities to examine the content of the black box inside the country, the content will be sent to France so that any possible damage to the data would be avoided, Hassan Rezaeifar told state news agency IRNA.

Rezaeifar said Iran asked Canada, France and the US to bring their software and hardware equipment to Tehran to download the data of the black box of the Ukrainian plane, but they did not accept Iran's proposal, according to IRNA.

Then, Iran asked Ukraine, Sweden, Britain, Canada, and the US to send the black box to an impartial laboratory -- and France was the only one all five countries agreed on, he said.

The decision to send the black box over to France was made before Saturday’s statement from the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, which admitted to downing the Ukrainian airliner, according to IRNA.

No details were provided as to when Iran will send the black box over.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiUGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNubi5jb20vbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9saXZlLW5ld3MvdXMtaXJhbi1uZXdzLTAxLTExLTIwMjAtaW50bC9pbmRleC5odG1s0gFUaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuY25uLmNvbS9jbm4vbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9saXZlLW5ld3MvdXMtaXJhbi1uZXdzLTAxLTExLTIwMjAtaW50bC9pbmRleC5odG1s?oc=5

2020-01-11 09:21:00Z
52780544880119

Live Updates: Iran Says Downing of Plane Was ‘Disastrous Mistake’ - The New York Times

Here’s what you need to know:

• Iran says it accidentally shot down Flight 752.
• Ukraine’s president wants ‘a full admission of guilt.’
• Iranians reacted with anger toward their government.
• Western nations had already concluded that Tehran was to blame.

Video

The New York Times has obtained and verified video showing the moment a Ukrainian airliner was hit in Iran.CreditCredit...Screenshot from video

Iran says it accidentally shot down Flight 752.

After maintaining for days that there was no evidence that one of its missiles had struck a Boeing 737-800 minutes after it took off from Tehran on Wednesday with 176 people on board, Iran admitted early on Saturday that its military had accidentally shot down the passenger jet.

The military blamed human error. In a statement, it said the plane had taken a sharp, unexpected turn that brought it near a sensitive military base.

In post on Twitter, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohamad Javad Zarif, apologized but appeared to blame American “adventurism” for the tragedy, writing: “Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster.”

President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter that Iran “deeply regrets this disastrous mistake.”

In a statement cited by the semiofficial Fars News Agency, the president offered condolences to the victims’ families and said that “the terrible catastrophe should be thoroughly investigated.” He added that those responsible for “this unforgivable mistake” would be identified and “prosecuted.”

Ukraine’s president wants ‘a full admission of guilt.’

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, in his first reaction to Iran’s announcement, said Kyiv would “insist on a full admission of guilt” by Tehran.

“We expect Iran to assure its readiness for a full and open investigation, to bring those responsible to justice, to return the bodies of the victims, to pay compensation, and to make official apologies through diplomatic channels,” Mr. Zelensky said in a post on his Facebook page. “We hope that the investigation will continue without artificial delays and obstacles.”

Mr. Zelensky came under domestic criticism this week for refusing to publicly blame Iran for the disaster even as the United States, Canada and Britain did. Instead, Mr. Zelensky dispatched a team of specialists to Tehran who sought to work alongside Iranians in studying the crash site. He implored the public to avoid speculating about the cause of the disaster.

Iran’s announcement on Saturday vindicated Mr. Zelensky’s cautious approach, said Ivan Yakovina, a columnist for the Kyiv-based magazine Novoye Vremya. “If there had been threats from Ukraine, then I believe Iran wouldn’t have allowed the specialists to do their jobs and generally would have refused to admit guilt,” he said.

Iranians reacted with anger toward their government.

Iranians expressed fury in the first hours after the admission. Even conservatives and supporters of the government accused the authorities of having intentionally misled the public about what had brought down the plane, whose passengers included many young Iranians on their way to Canada for graduate study.

The semiofficial Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, posted a harsh commentary condemning Iran’s leaders, saying “their shortcomings have made this tragedy twice as bitter.”

“It is pivotal that those who were hiding the truth from the public for the past 72 hours be held accountable, we cannot let this go,” it read. “Individuals, media, political and military officials who commented in the past 72 hours must be investigated. If they knew of the truth and were deliberately speaking falsehood or for any reason were trying to hide it, they must be prosecuted, no matter what post they hold.”

Flights In and Out of Tehran Continued After Missile Strikes and Plane Crash

Planes took off after Iran’s missile strikes on bases in Iraq, and even after a Ukrainian plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

Siamak Ghaesmi, a Tehran-based economist, addressed the country’s leaders in an Instagram post: “I don’t know what to do with my rage and grief. I’m thinking of all the ‘human errors’ in these years that were never revealed because there was no international pressure. I’m thinking of the little trust left that was shattered. I’m thinking of the innocent lives lost because of confronting and being stubborn with the world. What have you done with us?”

Mohamad Saeed Ahadian, a conservative analyst in Iran, said on Twitter, “There are two major problems with the Ukrainian Airlines issue. One is firing at an airplane and two is firing at the public’s trust. The first can be justified but the latter is a mistake with absolutely no justification.”

Some social media posts made use of the term “harsh revenge,” which Iran’s leaders had promised to inflict on the United States for the killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a top Revolutionary Guards commander, in a drone strike last week.

Mojtaba Fathi, an Iranian journalist, wrote on Twitter, “They were supposed to take their harsh revenge against America, not the people.”

Western nations had already concluded that Tehran was to blame.

International pressure had been building on Iran to take responsibility. American and allied officials had said that all intelligence assessments indicated that surface-to-air missiles fired by Iranian military forces had shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

The crash occurred days after the American drone strike that killed General Suleimani and an Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as they left the airport in Baghdad.

The general’s killing sent shock waves through the Middle East and led to calls for revenge in Iran, as well as a vote by Iraq’s Parliament to oust American troops from that country. Iran responded to the drone strike by firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at two American bases in Iraq. But the missiles caused little damage and no American or Iraqi casualties, President Trump and Iraqi officials said.

Farnaz Fassihi, Anton Troianovski and Andrew Kramer contributed reporting.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiUWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDEvMTEvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pcmFuLXVrcmFpbmUtcGxhbmUtY3Jhc2guaHRtbNIBVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDEvMTEvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pcmFuLXVrcmFpbmUtcGxhbmUtY3Jhc2guYW1wLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-01-11 08:23:00Z
52780544880119

New video shows moment Ukrainian plane crashes in Iran - CNN

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9QXhUU1dTY3FoVzDSAQA?oc=5

2020-01-10 17:32:45Z
52780544880119

Iran's UN ambassador says missile strikes weren't intended to kill Americans - CNN

Vice President Mike Pence has said the administration believes the strikes "were intended to kill Americans," though some administration officials have suggested to CNN that although Iran could have directed their missiles to hit areas that were populated by Americans, they intentionally did not. There were no US casualties as a result of the attacks.

"We said before we took our military action that we would choose the timing and the place, and we chose the place where the attack against (Iranian general Qasem) Soleimani was initiated," Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told CNN's John Berman on "New Day" Friday when asked about Pence's comments. "And we do not consider a high number of casualties as an instrumental element in our calculations."

When pressed as to whether they tried to avoid killing Americans, Ravanchi said that he could not describe exactly what happened.

"I'm not a military man, I cannot tell you exactly what was going on. But what I can tell you is that the target was chosen in order to show that we are capable of hitting the target where the plan to kill Soleimani was organized," he said, adding that "we are not interested, we are not looking after killing Americans within this operation."

Ravanchi also indicated that while the strikes "concluded that phase of our military action against the US forces," Iran would not be ensuring that groups -- such as Hezbollah or Iraqi militias loyal to the country -- will stand down barring further US action.

"We are not responsible for any action that others might take," he said. "It is not our job to say that this gentleman or that gentleman should do this or should not do this."

When pressed on whether Iran would not ask Iraqi militias to refrain from attacking Americans, Ravanchi replied, "It is not our job to ask this group or that group -- we are responsible for whatever action we take."

Last week's US strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani sharply escalated tensions between the two longtime adversaries, culminating in this week's missile attacks on the Iraqi bases. President Donald Trump has since indicated a de-escalation of the crisis, though he has promised a further ratcheting up of economic sanctions against Iran.

CNN's Kylie Atwood, Pamela Brown, Kaitlan Collins, Jim Sciutto, Ryan Browne, Barbara Starr and Paul LeBlanc contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNubi5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xMC9wb2xpdGljcy9pcmFuaWFuLWFtYmFzc2Fkb3ItdW4tbWlzc2lsZS1zdHJpa2Utbm90LWtpbGwtYW1lcmljYW5zLWNubnR2L2luZGV4Lmh0bWzSAXRodHRwczovL2FtcC5jbm4uY29tL2Nubi8yMDIwLzAxLzEwL3BvbGl0aWNzL2lyYW5pYW4tYW1iYXNzYWRvci11bi1taXNzaWxlLXN0cmlrZS1ub3Qta2lsbC1hbWVyaWNhbnMtY25udHYvaW5kZXguaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-01-10 14:22:00Z
52780536809258

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, returns to Canada after bombshell announcement - CNN

Prince Harry remains in the UK and Meghan is expected to come back to London on Tuesday, when the couple are set to attend an event with Janice Charette, High Commissioner of Canada to the UK, at Canada House.

Meghan and Harry wanted to meet with Charette "as well as staff to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada," according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

The couple recently returned from Canada, where they spent the Christmas holidays with the duchess' mother, Doria Ragland.

"The Duke and Duchess have a strong connection to Canada. It's a country The Duke of Sussex has visited many times over the years and it was also home to The Duchess for seven years before she became a member of The Royal Family," the royals said on their Instagram page, Sussex Royal, on Wednesday.

The latest developments follow the shock announcement that the pair plan to "transition into a new working model" and become "financially independent" after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.

There was said to be a mood of deep disappointment in the palace following the announcement, and senior members of the family are hurt as a result of the news.

Meghan and Harry's desire to become "financially independent" has also sparked questions as to how they will be able to do this.

The pair published detailed documents outlining the structure and funding of their household, which revealed they receive 5% of their income from the Sovereign Grant -- a lump sum of UK taxpayers' money given to the Queen every year -- and 95% from the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate controlled by Prince Charles, Harry's father.

Media reports have suggested that Meghan was independently worth around $5 million before she married Harry, who inherited millions from his mother Princess Diana.

However UK newspaper The Times reports that Charles may withdraw funding from the couple if they completely withdraw from their royal duties.

Observers say the couple are unlikely to struggle for money and could generate income from a UK trademark for their brand 'Sussex Royal," which the couple applied for in June, as well as sponsorship or speaking tours.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiSWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNubi5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xMC91ay9oYXJyeS1tZWdoYW4tY2FuYWRhLWludGwtZ2JyL2luZGV4Lmh0bWzSAU1odHRwczovL2FtcC5jbm4uY29tL2Nubi8yMDIwLzAxLzEwL3VrL2hhcnJ5LW1lZ2hhbi1jYW5hZGEtaW50bC1nYnIvaW5kZXguaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-01-10 13:44:00Z
52780542675596

Iran plane crash: Iranian regime denies shooting down Ukrainian passenger jet today - Live updates - CBS News

  Updated 14m ago

Video shows apparent missile strike

There were mounting indications Friday morning that Iran shot down the civilian passenger jet in its own airspace, killing many of its own citizens early Wednesday morning. 

U.S. officials confident two Iranian missiles hit Ukrainian plane

A video obtained by the New York Times appears to show the impact. In it you can see a bright flash, which sources tell CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer was likely the explosion of two surface-to-air missiles. 

Surveillance cameras picked up a shower of debris from the Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 that crashed just minutes after takeoff from Tehran's main airport, killing 176 people. Watch the video above to see Palmer's full report from Tehran.  

  Updated 56m ago

Iran says black boxes being assessed at "suitable laboratory"

Iran's state-run media said Friday that representatives from the U.S., Canada and France were on their way to the Islamic Republic to join Iranian investigators leading the investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian jet that American officials say Iran likely shot down by mistake. Iran has made clear that its own investigators will lead the probe, and said the black boxes were already being assessed at a lab in Tehran.

Hassan Rezaiefar of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization was quoted by various Iranian outlets as saying the country's investigators and experts from several domestic airlines were assessing the black boxes at a "suitable laboratory at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport" to see if they could reliably analyze the information from them "inside the country."

IRNA said if the Iranians were unable to successfully extract the data, "with the aim of preventing damage to information," they would seek help from Russia, France, Canada or Ukraine. 

  5:16 AM

Iran accuses U.S. of "spreading lies" about crash

A spokesman and adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has accused the U.S. government of "spreading lies" about the crash of a Ukrainian airliner this week, saying Washington should wait for the results of the ongoing investigation. 

Ali Rabiei also offered condolences to the families of the doomed Ukrainian International Airlines plane that came down near Tehran in his statement issued late Thursday, according to Iran's state-run news agency Tasnim. 

U.S. officials have told CBS News that intelligence shows an Iranian surface-to-air missile struck the Boeing 737-800 minutes after it took off from Tehran, likely by mistake.

The "Civil Aviation Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran has now set up a committee to probe the incident in accordance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations," Rabai said, insisting that the committee, including experts from all countries involved in the plane crash, would transparently investigate the accident and announce the results.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board confirmed an invite from Iran, but said it was unclear how much of a role it would be able to play given U.S. sanctions on Iran.

  4:19 AM

CBS News sees crash site scrubbed of debris

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer was able Friday to briefly view the site in Tehran where the Ukrainian plane crashed two days earlier, before Iranian security officials compelled her team to leave. She said very little debris was left from the early Wednesday morning crash and there were people — not officials but apparent scavengers — poring over the scene looking for pieces to take away. 

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports from the site where a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed down in flames in Tehran, Iran, on January 10, 2020, two days after the crash. CBS

Ukrainian investigators had not yet visited the site as of noon on Friday (3:30 a.m. Eastern).

Witnesses told Palmer they saw a truck and heavy equipment come on Thursday and take away most of the wreckage. Iran has not said where the wreckage was taken.

Palmer and her team said the crash site was large and they were only able to view one part of it, but after they visited the scene a witness told them larger pieces of the jet's fuselage and nose had been removed. The witness said removal of both the wreckage and bodies of the victims began the day of the crash. 

See Palmer's full report from Tehran on "CBS This Morning" at 7 a.m. Eastern.

  Updated 3:58 AM

Russia calls missile claims "groundless"

Russian lawmakers said Friday that claims of a missile hitting a Ukrainian jetliner over Iran were "groundless" and they accused the West of prematurely assigning blame to Tehran.  

Vladimir Dzhabarov, a lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, said Friday that "we need to be cautious with conclusions. Iranians have invited Ukraine to take part in the investigation. Why would they do it if they knew they had shot (the plane) down?"

Leonid Slutsky, a lawmaker with Russia's lower house of parliament, echoed that sentiment and said conclusions about the cause of the crash could be politically motivated.

"Facts and solid evidence are needed, rather than vague references to intelligence findings. So far it has all been groundless," Slutsky said.  

- Associated Press

  Updated 3:35 AM

Ukrainian leader: "Missile theory" not "confirmed yet"

The Ukrainian president says he is not ruling out the possibility that the plane which crashed earlier this week in Iran had been hit a by a missile.

"The missile theory is not ruled out, but it has not been confirmed yet," Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post Friday. All 176 people on board the plane bound for Ukraine died.

Zelensky reiterated his call for "all international partners" - the U.S., Britain and Canada in particular - to share data and evidence relevant to the crash.

He also announced plans to discuss the investigation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday afternoon.

- Associated Press

  Updated 30m ago

Iran invites U.S. transportation officials and Boeing to crash site

Iran's Aircraft Accident Investigation Board has invited the National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing to the site of the plane crash.

In a statement, NTSB said it isn't sure if it will accept the offer: "Due to sanctions and restrictions in place affecting participation by the NTSB and other U.S. organizations, the NTSB continues its coordination with the State Department, Treasury Department and Commerce to determine the best course of action as this investigation unfolds."

"Close interagency coordination is of particular importance in this instance given the long-standing sanctions against Iran, which, among other things, prohibit the provision of technical data, lending of technical assistance and travel to Iran," the NTSB said. 

Iran's U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told CBS News' Pamela Falk on Thursday that his country was "ready to include others in the investigation."

The Iranian envoy told CBS News that his country welcomed "the presence of the nationalities of the countries who were part of the people who were on board. If any country has any information, we would welcome the information to be investigated."

Ravanchi added, "We have also welcomed any input that Boeing, as a company who has made this plane, to put forward and come to us and share with us anything that can facilitate the work of this investigation."

  Updated 7:35 PM

Iran denies jet was shot down

Iran disputes Ukrainian jet was shot down

Iranian officials are denying that one of their missiles shot down the passenger jet. A spokesman for the armed forces called the allegations ridiculous and Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the Iranian Civilian Aviation Authority, said it's not scientifically possible.

Within hours of the crash, the aviation authority pointed toward technical failure as the cause and said the plane was on fire as it tried to return to the airport minutes after takeoff. A website affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard called the U.S. intelligence a conspiracy cooked up by Iran's enemies. 

Ukrainian investigators arrived at the crash site to participate but they have not yet been given access to the crash site.

The Iranians have said that they will not hand over the plane's black boxes, but will work with the Ukrainians to download and analyze the data. They said if they need extra help, they may approach other countries and specifically mentioned France.

  Updated 7:33 PM

Canada officials will visit crash site in Iran

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced Thursday that it has been invited by Iran to visit the site of the plane crash. The group said it accepted the invitation and is making travel arrangements.

  Updated 7:33 PM

U.S. shares intelligence with "Five Eyes" alliance

The United States has shared intelligence suggesting Iran shot down the Ukranian Airlines plane with the "Five Eyes" alliance. That alliance is comprised of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. 

  Updated 7:59 PM

Brother of crash victim speaks out: "It's been Hell"

Omidar Salani lost his sister, her husband and his 16-month-old niece in the crash. He told CBS News that it's been "Hell" since the plane went down. 

"I hope this never happens to anybody. I [hope] nobody loses a sibling or family members and I hope nobody ever loses three members of their family in one incident and it's — it's very hard to deal with this," he said. "It's very hard to cope with it, especially at the beginning hours. Nothing makes sense, nothing — and there's no answers and there's no way of getting over it." 

"She was a really good person, really good," he added.

"Every moment, I say, 'I'm gonna wake up. It's a nightmare and it's over. She's home and I'm going to go knock on her door,'" Salani said.

Flight staffers place candles in front of a memorial for the victims at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020.  Getty

  Updated 7:33 PM

British PM Boris Johnson: "This may well have been unintentional"

Johnson issued the following statement on Thursday's developments:

The loss of life on Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 is a tragedy and my thoughts are with all of those who lost loved ones. Four British nationals were among those who were killed, and we are providing support to their families at this most terrible time.

There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile. This may well have been unintentional. We are working closely with Canada and our international partners and there now needs to be a full, transparent investigation.

It is vital that there should be an immediate and respectful repatriation of those who've lost their lives to allow their families to grieve properly. The UK continues to call on all sides urgently to de-escalate to reduce tensions in the region.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Trudeau: Evidence indicates Iran shot down plane

Trudeau: Evidence indicates plane shot down by Iranian missile

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said intelligence from multiple sources, including Canadian intelligence, indicated that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. "This may well have been unintentional," Trudeau told reporters during a press conference Thursday in Ottawa, the nation's capital.

Of the 176 people killed in the crash, at least 63 were Canadians. Trudeau called for an in-depth investigation into the crash.

The plane was headed for Kiev. Trudeau said he spoke with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky about the crash.

Iranian authorities have said they want to keep the plane's black boxes in Iran but told Zelensky that Ukrainian investigators will have access to them, Trudeau said. Asked about President Trump's comment earlier Thursday that the plane was flying in a "rough neighborhood," Trudeau said he would let Mr. Trump's words stand for themselves.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Newly surfaced video appears to show moment of impact

U.S. officials are confident Iran shot down Ukranian plane

Newly surfaced video appears to show the moment of impact as the plane was gaining altitude, CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reports. The video lines up with flight data that showed a normal takeoff until the plane reached an altitude of about 8,000 feet and suffered a sudden catastrophic event, Van Cleave reports.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Trump: "I had my suspicions"

President Trump was asked about the crash during an event at the White House on Thursday morning. "I had my suspicions," the president said. "I don't want to say that because other people have their suspicions also."

"It's a tragic thing when I see that," Mr. Trump said. "It's a tragic thing, but somebody could have made a mistake on the other side."

"It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood, and somebody could have made a mistake," the president said. "Some people say it was mechanical. I personally don't think that's even a question."

  Updated 7:19 PM

U.S. officials confident Iran shot down the jet

U.S. officials are confident Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner in the hours after the Iranian missile attack on U.S. targets earlier this week, CBS News has learned. U.S. intelligence picked up signals of a radar being turned on, sources told CBS News. 

The sources said U.S. satellites detected two surface-to-air missile launches, which happened shortly before the plane exploded.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jYnNuZXdzLmNvbS9saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMvaXJhbi1wbGFuZS1jcmFzaC1pcmFuaWFucy1kZW55LXVzLWNsYWltcy1taXNzaWxlLXNob3QtZG93bi11a3JhaW5pYW4tcGxhbmUtdG9kYXktMjAyMC0wMS0xMC1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMv0gGSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNic25ld3MuY29tL2FtcC9saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMvaXJhbi1wbGFuZS1jcmFzaC1pcmFuaWFucy1kZW55LXVzLWNsYWltcy1taXNzaWxlLXNob3QtZG93bi11a3JhaW5pYW4tcGxhbmUtdG9kYXktMjAyMC0wMS0xMC1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMv?oc=5

2020-01-10 12:36:00Z
52780544880119

Iran plane crash: Iranian regime denies shooting down Ukrainian passenger jet today - Live updates - CBS News

  Updated 27m ago

Iran says black boxes being assessed at "suitable laboratory"

Iran's state-run media said Friday that representatives from the U.S., Canada and France were on their way to the Islamic Republic to join Iranian investigators leading the investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian jet that American officials say Iran likely shot down by mistake. Iran has made clear that its own investigators will lead the probe, and said the black boxes were already being assessed at a lab in Tehran.

Hassan Rezaiefar of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization was quoted by various Iranian outlets as saying the country's investigators and experts from several domestic airlines were assessing the black boxes at a "suitable laboratory at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport" to see if they could reliably analyze the information from them "inside the country."

IRNA said if the Iranians were unable to successfully extract the data, "with the aim of preventing damage to information," they would seek help from Russia, France, Canada or Ukraine. 

  5:16 AM

Iran accuses U.S. of "spreading lies" about crash

A spokesman and adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has accused the U.S. government of "spreading lies" about the crash of a Ukrainian airliner this week, saying Washington should wait for the results of the ongoing investigation. 

Ali Rabiei also offered condolences to the families of the doomed Ukrainian International Airlines plane that came down near Tehran in his statement issued late Thursday, according to Iran's state-run news agency Tasnim. 

U.S. officials have told CBS News that intelligence shows an Iranian surface-to-air missile struck the Boeing 737-800 minutes after it took off from Tehran, likely by mistake.

The "Civil Aviation Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran has now set up a committee to probe the incident in accordance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations," Rabai said, insisting that the committee, including experts from all countries involved in the plane crash, would transparently investigate the accident and announce the results.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board confirmed an invite from Iran, but said it was unclear how much of a role it would be able to play given U.S. sanctions on Iran.

  4:19 AM

CBS News sees crash site scrubbed of debris

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer was able Friday to briefly view the site in Tehran where the Ukrainian plane crashed two days earlier, before Iranian security officials compelled her team to leave. She said very little debris was left from the early Wednesday morning crash and there were people — not officials but apparent scavengers — poring over the scene looking for pieces to take away. 

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports from the site where a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed down in flames in Tehran, Iran, on January 10, 2020, two days after the crash. CBS

Ukrainian investigators had not yet visited the site as of noon on Friday (3:30 a.m. Eastern).

Witnesses told Palmer they saw a truck and heavy equipment come on Thursday and take away most of the wreckage. Iran has not said where the wreckage was taken.

Palmer and her team said the crash site was large and they were only able to view one part of it, but after they visited the scene a witness told them larger pieces of the jet's fuselage and nose had been removed. The witness said removal of both the wreckage and bodies of the victims began the day of the crash. 

See Palmer's full report from Tehran on "CBS This Morning" at 7 a.m. Eastern.

  Updated 3:58 AM

Russia calls missile claims "groundless"

Russian lawmakers said Friday that claims of a missile hitting a Ukrainian jetliner over Iran were "groundless" and they accused the West of prematurely assigning blame to Tehran.  

Vladimir Dzhabarov, a lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, said Friday that "we need to be cautious with conclusions. Iranians have invited Ukraine to take part in the investigation. Why would they do it if they knew they had shot (the plane) down?"

Leonid Slutsky, a lawmaker with Russia's lower house of parliament, echoed that sentiment and said conclusions about the cause of the crash could be politically motivated.

"Facts and solid evidence are needed, rather than vague references to intelligence findings. So far it has all been groundless," Slutsky said.  

- Associated Press

  Updated 3:35 AM

Ukrainian leader: "Missile theory" not "confirmed yet"

The Ukrainian president says he is not ruling out the possibility that the plane which crashed earlier this week in Iran had been hit a by a missile.

"The missile theory is not ruled out, but it has not been confirmed yet," Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post Friday. All 176 people on board the plane bound for Ukraine died.

Zelensky reiterated his call for "all international partners" - the U.S., Britain and Canada in particular - to share data and evidence relevant to the crash.

He also announced plans to discuss the investigation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday afternoon.

- Associated Press

  Updated 0m ago

Iran invites U.S. transportation officials and Boeing to crash site

Iran's Aircraft Accident Investigation Board has invited the National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing to the site of the plane crash.

In a statement, NTSB said it isn't sure if it will accept the offer: "Due to sanctions and restrictions in place affecting participation by the NTSB and other U.S. organizations, the NTSB continues its coordination with the State Department, Treasury Department and Commerce to determine the best course of action as this investigation unfolds."

"Close interagency coordination is of particular importance in this instance given the long-standing sanctions against Iran, which, among other things, prohibit the provision of technical data, lending of technical assistance and travel to Iran," the NTSB said. 

Iran's U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told CBS News' Pamela Falk on Thursday that his country was "ready to include others in the investigation."

The Iranian envoy told CBS News that his country welcomed "the presence of the nationalities of the countries who were part of the people who were on board. If any country has any information, we would welcome the information to be investigated."

Ravanchi added, "We have also welcomed any input that Boeing, as a company who has made this plane, to put forward and come to us and share with us anything that can facilitate the work of this investigation."

  Updated 7:35 PM

Iran denies jet was shot down

Iran disputes Ukrainian jet was shot down

Iranian officials are denying that one of their missiles shot down the passenger jet. A spokesman for the armed forces called the allegations ridiculous and Ali Abedzadeh, the head of the Iranian Civilian Aviation Authority, said it's not scientifically possible.

Within hours of the crash, the aviation authority pointed toward technical failure as the cause and said the plane was on fire as it tried to return to the airport minutes after takeoff. A website affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard called the U.S. intelligence a conspiracy cooked up by Iran's enemies. 

Ukrainian investigators arrived at the crash site to participate but they have not yet been given access to the crash site.

The Iranians have said that they will not hand over the plane's black boxes, but will work with the Ukrainians to download and analyze the data. They said if they need extra help, they may approach other countries and specifically mentioned France.

  Updated 7:33 PM

Canada officials will visit crash site in Iran

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced Thursday that it has been invited by Iran to visit the site of the plane crash. The group said it accepted the invitation and is making travel arrangements.

  Updated 7:33 PM

U.S. shares intelligence with "Five Eyes" alliance

The United States has shared intelligence suggesting Iran shot down the Ukranian Airlines plane with the "Five Eyes" alliance. That alliance is comprised of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. 

  Updated 7:59 PM

Brother of crash victim speaks out: "It's been Hell"

Omidar Salani lost his sister, her husband and his 16-month-old niece in the crash. He told CBS News that it's been "Hell" since the plane went down. 

"I hope this never happens to anybody. I [hope] nobody loses a sibling or family members and I hope nobody ever loses three members of their family in one incident and it's — it's very hard to deal with this," he said. "It's very hard to cope with it, especially at the beginning hours. Nothing makes sense, nothing — and there's no answers and there's no way of getting over it." 

"She was a really good person, really good," he added.

"Every moment, I say, 'I'm gonna wake up. It's a nightmare and it's over. She's home and I'm going to go knock on her door,'" Salani said.

Flight staffers place candles in front of a memorial for the victims at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020.  Getty

  Updated 7:33 PM

British PM Boris Johnson: "This may well have been unintentional"

Johnson issued the following statement on Thursday's developments:

The loss of life on Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 is a tragedy and my thoughts are with all of those who lost loved ones. Four British nationals were among those who were killed, and we are providing support to their families at this most terrible time.

There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile. This may well have been unintentional. We are working closely with Canada and our international partners and there now needs to be a full, transparent investigation.

It is vital that there should be an immediate and respectful repatriation of those who've lost their lives to allow their families to grieve properly. The UK continues to call on all sides urgently to de-escalate to reduce tensions in the region.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Trudeau: Evidence indicates Iran shot down plane

Trudeau: Evidence indicates plane shot down by Iranian missile

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said intelligence from multiple sources, including Canadian intelligence, indicated that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. "This may well have been unintentional," Trudeau told reporters during a press conference Thursday in Ottawa, the nation's capital.

Of the 176 people killed in the crash, at least 63 were Canadians. Trudeau called for an in-depth investigation into the crash.

The plane was headed for Kiev. Trudeau said he spoke with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky about the crash.

Iranian authorities have said they want to keep the plane's black boxes in Iran but told Zelensky that Ukrainian investigators will have access to them, Trudeau said. Asked about President Trump's comment earlier Thursday that the plane was flying in a "rough neighborhood," Trudeau said he would let Mr. Trump's words stand for themselves.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Newly surfaced video appears to show moment of impact

U.S. officials are confident Iran shot down Ukranian plane

Newly surfaced video appears to show the moment of impact as the plane was gaining altitude, CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reports. The video lines up with flight data that showed a normal takeoff until the plane reached an altitude of about 8,000 feet and suffered a sudden catastrophic event, Van Cleave reports.

  Updated 7:19 PM

Trump: "I had my suspicions"

President Trump was asked about the crash during an event at the White House on Thursday morning. "I had my suspicions," the president said. "I don't want to say that because other people have their suspicions also."

"It's a tragic thing when I see that," Mr. Trump said. "It's a tragic thing, but somebody could have made a mistake on the other side."

"It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood, and somebody could have made a mistake," the president said. "Some people say it was mechanical. I personally don't think that's even a question."

  Updated 7:19 PM

U.S. officials confident Iran shot down the jet

U.S. officials are confident Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner in the hours after the Iranian missile attack on U.S. targets earlier this week, CBS News has learned. U.S. intelligence picked up signals of a radar being turned on, sources told CBS News. 

The sources said U.S. satellites detected two surface-to-air missile launches, which happened shortly before the plane exploded.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jYnNuZXdzLmNvbS9saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMvaXJhbi1wbGFuZS1jcmFzaC1pcmFuaWFucy1kZW55LXVzLWNsYWltcy1taXNzaWxlLXNob3QtZG93bi11a3JhaW5pYW4tcGxhbmUtdG9kYXktMjAyMC0wMS0xMC1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMv0gGSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNic25ld3MuY29tL2FtcC9saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMvaXJhbi1wbGFuZS1jcmFzaC1pcmFuaWFucy1kZW55LXVzLWNsYWltcy1taXNzaWxlLXNob3QtZG93bi11a3JhaW5pYW4tcGxhbmUtdG9kYXktMjAyMC0wMS0xMC1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMv?oc=5

2020-01-10 11:52:00Z
52780544880119