Ukraine airliner crashes shortly after takeoff from Tehran just 3+ hours after the launch of missile

[mystery-ak]

January 8, 2020
Ukraine airliner crashes shortly after takeoff from Tehran just 3+ hours after the launch of missile attack on bases in Iraq
By Thomas Lifson

The sole death toll from the skies on the night Iran launched its missiles in retaliation for the killing of terror master Soleimani came as an airliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing a reported 176 souls.

Do you believe in coincidences? Do most Iranians? Surely the combination of this air disaster with an earthquake near the Bushehr nuclear facility has some Iranians contemplating Allah’s will.

The mullahs’ government initially blamed the US-built Boeing 737-800 (not the 800 MAX that has been grounded) experiencing technical faults, as Bloomberg reported:

    A Boeing Co. 737-800 jetliner bound for Ukraine that crashed after takeoff in Iran, killing everyone on board, was most likely brought down by an engine fire, according to Tehran authorities.

    Ukraine International Airlines said 167 passengers and nine crew were on the plane (snip)

    Iran’s Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization said early assessments indicate the cause was a technical issue and the transport ministry suggested a fire was to blame, dismissing speculation that the jet was downed by a stray missile following Iranian strikes against U.S. bases in Iraq.


more
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/01/ukraine_airliner_crashes_shortly_after_takeoff_from_tehran_just_3_hours_after_the_launch_of_missile_attack_on_bases_in_iraq.html

[dfwgator]

The plane didn't crash itself.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

That jet was clearly on fire long before it hit the ground.  So it's either an onboard fire that should have resulted in a distress call and evidence of an internally-caused fire, or the Iranians screwed up and shot it down.

My money is on the latter.

[Jazzhead]

That jet was clearly on fire long before it hit the ground.  So it's either an onboard fire that should have resulted in a distress call and evidence of an internally-caused fire, or the Iranians screwed up and shot it down.

My money is on the latter.

So is mine.  The Iranians appear to be the gang that can't shoot straight.  The missile strikes appear to have inflicted no casualties,  several missed the targets entirely and two that did were duds.   Now they appear to have panicked and accidentally (I will assume)  shot down an airliner (with, it appears, no Americans on board).   Pictures on the British internet of the crash appear to show shrapnel holes in the fuselage and wings.

[TomSea]

– 82 Iranians
– 63 Canadians
– 11 Ukrainians
– 10 Swedes
– 4 Afghans
– 3 Germans
– 3 British nationals

https://heavy.com/news/2020/01/ukrainian-plane-crash-victims-nationalities-names/

I have heard a few different figures but a lot of Iranians, that number of Canadians is jaw-dropping too. 

Lots of theories around...

Same model, not the same plane though, did suffer some backfiring as this tweet shows (repeated from the other thread) with video.

https://twitter.com/sharonidan/status/1214806866171191306

Ruthen
@RutheniaRus
The tailpipe fire or what it called in the airline industry a back fire, which affect the aircraft turbofan engines is occurring only on ground, during engine start or shutdown.

https://twitter.com/RutheniaRus/status/1214872021034831873

One thing I read this morning was saying, maybe with so many Iranians on board, could they have been targeted over that? Iranians fleeing the regime?? It seems to be a remote possibility among other things.

An amazing amount of Canadians.

[TomSea]

CBC:

World·Updated
63 Canadians among dead after Ukrainian plane crash in Iran, airline says

Cause of Flight PS752 crash unknown, plane goes down minutes after takeoff near Tehran
The Associated Press · Posted: Jan 08, 2020 3:46 AM ET

The latest:

    Flight PS752 bound for Kyiv crashes Wednesday morning near airport in Tehran, killing all aboard.
    Ukraine International Airline says 167 passengers and 9 crew members were on flight.
    Ukraine's foreign minister says total on board includes 63 Canadians.
    Victims include residents of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia.
    Cause of the crash unclear. Officials cited possible mechanical failure before backtracking.


More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-ukraine-air-crash-canadians-tehran-1.5418610

A National Tragedy for Canada.

[PeteS in CA]

A good number of Iranians fled the country in the late 70s, to escape Khomeini's regime. And a good number of others fled in the 80s to avoid the Iran-Iraq war. Over time, they would have become citizens and had kids in the West, but they still have family in Iran. Probably some of the Canadians were former Iranians or first-generation Canadians.

[TomSea]

A good number of Iranians fled the country in the late 70s, to escape Khomeini's regime. And a good number of others fled in the 80s to avoid the Iran-Iraq war. Over time, they would have become citizens and had kids in the West, but they still have family in Iran. Probably some of the Canadians were former Iranians or first-generation Canadians.

Yes, good reasoning. It does look like some might look like typical Canadians per pictures of some of those in mourning I see.

I have an acquaintance who went to Iran about 3-4 years ago. He took no chances at anything over there. When he logged onto the internet, nothing to arouse the slightest suspicions.

I just talked to someone from Lebanon, he's even a bit afraid of what he writes on the web in that it could be monitored.  Lebanon, Hezbollah with a lot of power, how much, I don't know.

[TomSea]

Politics·Updated
Trudeau says plane crash in Iran that killed 63 Canadians will be 'thoroughly investigated'

PM offers 'deepest condolences' to the 176 crash victims
Catharine Tunney · CBC News · Posted: Jan 08, 2020 7:40 AM ET | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
A Ukraine International Airlines worker reacts during a briefing at Borispil International Airport outside Kyiv on Wednesday. A Ukrainian airplane carrying 176 people crashed on Wednesday shortly after takeoff from Tehran's main airport, killing all aboard. Ukraine's foreign minister says 63 Canadians are among the dead. (Efrem Lukatsky/The Associated Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will make sure the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines flight Wednesday morning that killed everyone aboard — including 63 Canadians — is "thoroughly investigated."

Trudeau issued a statement this morning offering his condolences to the families of the 176 people on Flight PS752 from Tehran to Kyiv — 167 passengers and nine crew, including Canadian families, academics and students.

"On behalf of the government of Canada, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost family, friends, and loved ones in this tragedy. Our government will continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that this crash is thoroughly investigated and that Canadians' questions are answered," he said.

Read more (over 1100 comments at link) at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iran-ukrainian-plane-crash-canada-reaction-1.5418648

Global News CA:

Canada
At least 5 British Columbians among 63 Canadians killed in Iran plane crash
By Sean Boynton Global News
Posted January 8, 2020 1:22 pm

At least five British Columbians are among the 63 Canadians killed in a devastating plane crash near Iran’s capital, Tehran, early Wednesday morning, including a family of three from Port Coquitlam.

Friends tell Global News that Ardalan Ebnoddin Hamidi, his wife Niloufar Khamsi Razzaghi and their 15-year-old son Kamyar Ebnoddin Hamidi were on the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed, killing all 176 people on board.


Ardalan Ebnoddin Hamidi, his wife Niloufar Khamsi Razzaghi and their son Kamyar Ebnoddin Hamidi. Submitted

More:  https://globalnews.ca/news/6382065/tehran-plane-crash-bc-victims/

Most of these, yes, do look like Iranian-Canadians.

27 Edmontonians killed in Tehran plane crash that claimed 176 lives: community leader
By Karen Bartko Global News
Posted January 8, 2020 9:36 am

...

Ghanimat Azhdari


...

More at: https://globalnews.ca/news/6381585/iran-plane-crash-canada-victims/

So, the Canadian press is usually pretty good imho. Lots on this for those interested.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I dated an Iranian girl whose family fled Iran when the Shah fell.  Really good family, sharp people.

[mountaineer]

This guy is Editor-in-chief at @Defence_Blog

Dylan Malyasov   @DylanMalyasov
This is my personal view:

Boeing 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines was shot down by Iranian Tor-M1 self-propelled missile system

3:30 PM · Jan 8, 2020

His tweet includes photos of the scene, but I don't know how or whether they support his belief. I also hear that Iran is not handing over the black box.

Many of the Canadians on board were university students, per the Toronto Star:

Ontario university students, Alberta family among Iran plane crash victims
By Star Staff
Wed., Jan. 8, 2020

Early Wednesday morning, a passenger jet heading to Ukraine from Iran crashed minutes after taking off in the Iranian capital of Tehran, killing 176 people on board, including 63 Canadians and several people with connections to Canada, according to Ukrainian officials and friends of the victims.

Ukrainian International Airlines has released a list of the passengers on board the plane, which was headed to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

The airline said most passengers were transiting through Kyiv to other destinations. The airline offers an inexpensive connecting flight from Kyiv to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. ... More

[mountaineer]

Ukraine not ruling out terror as cause of deadly plane crash in Iran
By Yaron Steinbuch
January 8, 2020 | 7:31am

Ukraine has walked back its statement that ruled out a terror attack as a cause behind the crash of a Boeing 737 that killed all 176 people aboard shortly after takeoff in Tehran.

“Information on the causes of the plane crash is being clarified by the commission. Any statements regarding the causes of the accident prior to the decision of said commission are not official,” according to a new statement by Ukraine’s embassy in Iran, CNN reports.

Responding to a question about speculation that a rocket downed Flight PS752, Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said in Kiev: “Any versions before the official conclusion is just manipulation.” ... New York Post

[Wingnut]

If there is a way to blame trump for this the Rats will.  Even if Tehran doesn't.

[bigheadfred]

His tweet includes photos of the scene, but I don't know how or whether they support his belief. I also hear that Iran is not handing over the black box.

@mountaineer

I also read they aren't giving Boeing access to the black boxes. What I read said there were two and one was damaged. It will be interesting what Iran says was the cause of the crash. Sabotage by one of their own probably won't be admitted.

[Elderberry]

Tehran plane crash! Ukraine retract engine failure claim: Iran will not give the black box of Ukrainian plane to Boeing: 737 can fly with 1 engine can land with none: Speculation rises

The Big Wobble by by Gary Walton 1/8/2020

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2020/01/ukraine-retract-engine-failure-claim.html

Speculation is rising over the cause of the Ukranian 737 crash in Tehran. The passenger jet crashed apparently on fire killing all 170 onboard. Ukraine's Tehran embassy initially blamed engine failure but later removed the statement and in another twist, Iran's civil aviation organization has said that it will not hand the black box over to Boeing from the Ukrainian airlines flight that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport on Wednesday morning. Both black boxes were found Wednesday, Iranian state television has reported. An Iranian official was quoted as saying both boxes were damaged but that it was believed their data could still be retrieved. chunks of the plane's fuselage can be seen peppered with holes.

Can a 737 fly on one engine? Yes, it can.

In fact, it can even take off on one engine. It's a regulatory requirement. That's why the engines are massively overpowered because each engine must be able to continue the fly by itself if the other one fails. It's a safety feature.

Can a 737 land without an engine? Yes, it can.

If both engines fail completely, the aeroplanes can glide to a safe (and not necessarily rough) landing. All airliners are able to do this. Indeed, airliners actually glide to a landing on every normal flight, with the engines set to idle for most of the descent, because that's the most fuel-efficient way to descend. Techwing

Iran says will not give the black box of Ukrainian plane to Boeing

Video footage of the flight shows that it was on fire shortly after taking off, crashing shortly thereafter. All 176 people on board were killed. Iran's civil aviation organization has said that it will not hand over to Boeing the black box of the Ukrainian airlines flight that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport on Wednesday morning. Both black boxes were found Wednesday, Iranian state television has reported. An Iranian official was quoted as saying both boxes were damaged but that it was believed their data could still be retrieved. Jerusalem Post

Ukraine retract engine failure claim

More at link.

[mystery-ak]

Fox showed video taken by people on the ground of the supposed plane as a fireball crashing to earth....

video here
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-plane-crash-video-appears-to-show-ukraine-international-airlines-boeing-737-on-fire-before-crashing-iran/

[Jazzhead]

What I read said that flight data suggested the plane was climbing normally for more than a minute to about 8,000 feet when the event occurred.   

[bigheadfred]

What I read said that flight data suggested the plane was climbing normally for more than a minute to about 8,000 feet when the event occurred.

Thanks for that info. I was under the impression they weren't that far up. Helps explain why there were no survivors.

[TomSea]

Ukraine sends search and rescue team to Iran for investigation of PS 752 crash
The Cabinet of Ministers we keep in touch with the relatives of the deceased to hold the DNA analysis
16:48, 8 January 2020

The Cabinet of Ministers made a decision to send the search and rescue team to Iran for holding of joint events on investigation of Boeing-737 crash and repatriation of the bodies of deceased Ukrainians as Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk reported on Telegram.

“We prepare the team for departing flight. Now, we keep in touch with the relatives of the deceased to hold the DNA analysis,” Honcharuk stated.

The plane with Ukrainian specialists of expert and search and rescue teams will fly to Iran on today's evening as President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Facebook.

More at: https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/ukraine-sends-search-and-rescue-team-to-iran-for-investigation-of-boeing-737-crash-47302.html

Well, this is good if they will be able to investigate but investigate what? Just matching DNA? Or why the plane went down??

Okay, this Reuters story seems to indicate, they will investigate the accident...  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-crash-search-team-idUSKBN1Z7226

Ukraine to send investigation team to Iran to probe plane crash: Zelenskiy

 Ukraine will send a team of experts to Iran later on Wednesday to investigate the circumstances of the crash of an Ukrainian airliner, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after meeting government officials.

marry ilona
@marry_ilona
Replying to
@RutheniaRus
Canada will be participating in the investigation. Aviation experts on TV here say they will be involved and Trudeau also confirmed. He will be on national TV in 15 minutes to discuss.

https://twitter.com/marry_ilona/status/1215012351587557377

Trudeau actually does fairly well in situations like this, otherwise, I don't care for him much.

Gossip on twitter I certainly won't fall for but if something looks like it comes from a real source like 112 above, AP, I will go with it.

And the Canadians are largely Iranians, I guess established in Canada, early reports said 144 Iranians on the plane, now, it has been changed to something like 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians, the numbers are close to adding up to 144.

[DB]

Ukraine not ruling out terror as cause of deadly plane crash in Iran
By Yaron Steinbuch
January 8, 2020 | 7:31am

Ukraine has walked back its statement that ruled out a terror attack as a cause behind the crash of a Boeing 737 that killed all 176 people aboard shortly after takeoff in Tehran.

“Information on the causes of the plane crash is being clarified by the commission. Any statements regarding the causes of the accident prior to the decision of said commission are not official,” according to a new statement by Ukraine’s embassy in Iran, CNN reports.

Responding to a question about speculation that a rocket downed Flight PS752, Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said in Kiev: “Any versions before the official conclusion is just manipulation.” ... New York Post

The black box belongs to the airline not Iran. If Iran shot the plane down by accident they will try to bury the evidence.

[catfish1957]

The black box belongs to the airline not Iran. If Iran shot the plane down by accident they will try to bury the evidence.

Exactly.

Iran's reluctance to hand over the black box to Boeing, or any other independent air entitiy for investigation, leads me to believe that Iran shot this thing down, possible accidentally in the heat of battle.  If we work the time line, I think this downed plane corresponded to near the same time after we were scrambing jets for a potential response attack.

[Smokin Joe]

I dated an Iranian girl whose family fled Iran when the Shah fell.  Really good family, sharp people.

I worked with a guy who left when the Shah was deposed. Armenian ancestry, Methodist by religion, smart, good worker, and all around great guy. Also a crack shot and a good hunter.

He had family over there still. There are still some good people there, living under the Ayatollah's regime.

[Smokin Joe]

The black box belongs to the airline not Iran. If Iran shot the plane down by accident they will try to bury the evidence.

I have little doubt that Iranian forces were on high alert, looking for US air assets to hit their launch sites. It is entirely possible that the Iranians shot down the airliner, but unlikely we'll hear them say so.

If confronted with incontrovertible evidence of such an error, they will either deny that is the case, or trot out some underling and execute him for his crimes.

[mystery-ak]

Russian missile strike eyed as one of many possible causes that led to plane crash in Iran: Ukraine
https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukrainian-passenger-plane-never-radioed-for-help-before-crash-black-boxes-damaged-iranian-investigators-say

[skeeter]

I have little doubt that Iranian forces were on high alert, looking for US air assets to hit their launch sites. It is entirely possible that the Iranians shot down the airliner, but unlikely we'll hear them say so.

If confronted with incontrovertible evidence of such an error, they will either deny that is the case, or trot out some underling and execute him for his crimes.

There was a Iranian report of a US plane shot down shortly after their missile strike, according to a streaming source I was listening to. It was quickly dropped. I wonder if this wasn't it.