Iran Plane Crash Kills 176 As Rockets Hit Two U.S. Military Bases In Iraq
A Boeing 737-800 plane conveying 176 passengers to Kieve, Ukraine, has crashed near Iranian capital of Tehran on Wednesday, killing all members on board.
Iranian media reports that the plane crashed near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport shortly after take off.
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The development is coming hours after Iran fired rockets at two military bases of the United States in Iraq.
The actual departure time for the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was said to have been delayed by one hour.
The Boryspil International Airport bound plane reportedly took off at about 6:12 a.m instead of 5:15am Tehran time.
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A statement on the Ukraine Foreign Ministry’s website said, “According to preliminary information, the plane crashed as a result of an engine failure for technical reasons. Currently, the version of a terrorist attack is ruled out.”
Aboard the ill-fated plane were 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians including all the crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons and three Germans.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was forced to cut short his trip to Oman.
Zelensky warned against “speculation or unchecked theories regarding the catastrophe,” adding “My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew.”
Meanwhile, Iran on Wednesday, launched rocket attacks on two military bases in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. strike that killed Soleimani.
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The U.S is still assessing the impact of the attacks on its military bases, but Iraq’s joint military command has said no casualties were recorded on its part.
In his reaction, Trump said in a tweet: “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
The elite wing of Iran’s military, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, described the attacks as “hard revenge” for Soleimani’s death.
