Ukrainian Boeing plane crash in Iran, investigators hunt for clues

Iran plane crash: A Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

Investigation underway: Ukraine is now probing multiple possible causes of the crash, including terrorism or a missile strike.

Victims from seven countries: Those killed include 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals, according to Ukraine's Foreign Minister.

Minutes after takeoff: The plane disappeared from radars a few minutes after its departure from the Iranian capital.

There are more questions than answers. Here are some of them


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Ukrainian plane crashes in Iran

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Ukrainian Boeing plane crash in Iran, investigators hunt for clues
By Tara John, CNN

Updated 8:26 a.m. ET, January 9, 2020
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What we're covering here
Iran plane crash: A Kiev-bound Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.
Investigation underway: Ukraine is now probing multiple possible causes of the crash, including terrorism or a missile strike.
Victims from seven countries: Those killed include 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals, according to Ukraine's Foreign Minister.
Minutes after takeoff: The plane disappeared from radars a few minutes after its departure from the Iranian capital.

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31 min ago
The fate of the black boxes
Analysis from CNN's Richard Quest

There have been numerous questions around the fate of the black boxes recovered from the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737, which crashed outside Tehran.

If a country where a crash took place did not have the technology to analyze data, the black box would instead be sent to places that have extensive experience and tools to read raw flight data -- such as the UK, US, France and Australia.

What we don't know is whether Iran has the technology to do that. If not, Iran may need to decide where to send the two recovered boxes.

What would be devastating is if it botched an attempt to read the boxes; in the worst case scenario this could destroy the data.

The boxes could be sent to Russia which has the means to read black box data.


58 min ago
Zelensky tells Swedish PM that Ukraine is "stunned" by tragedy
From CNN's Zahra Ullah in Moscow

Chine Nouvelle/SIPA/Shutterstock
Chine Nouvelle/SIPA/Shutterstock
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rang Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven to express his condolences to the loved ones of the 10 Swedish citizens killed in the plane crash in Iran.

“Ukraine is stunned by the tragedy. Thank you for your solidarity and empathy,” Zelensky said in the phone conversation, according to a Thursday statement.

We are making all the necessary efforts to find out the causes of this plane crash and are ready to work closely with Sweden. Our task is to find out the truth. This is the main thing."
Zelensky also invited Sweden to join the investigation.

Löfven also expressed his condolences from the people of Sweden and said that officials in Stockholm were ready to assist, using all possible means to ensure a transparent investigation.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven attends a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on January 8.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven attends a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on January 8. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine was in constant contact with a group of experts in Tehran and would inform its partners of the progress of the investigation.


1 hr 1 min ago
There are more questions than answers. Here are some of them
Crews search the scene of the crash on Wednesday.
Crews search the scene of the crash on Wednesday. Foad Ashtari/dpa/Getty Images
It's the second day of investigation into Wednesday's Ukraine International Airlines plane crash, which killed all 176 people on board when the Boeing 737 plunged to the ground just after takeoff from Tehran.

Questions on what caused the tragic incident loom large. Here are some of them:

Why did the plane crash?

There have been conflicting reasons given for the tragedy, and Ukrainian authorities have signaled that an answer will only be provided after a full investigation has been made.

By Thursday, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization released a preliminary report that said the plane was on fire before it crashed, citing witnesses. It added that the aircraft changed direction after a problem and turned back toward the airport.

Now, Ukraine says multiple possible theories are being discussed with Iranian investigators: including the plane being hit by an anti-aircraft missile, a collision, technical failure or a terrorist act.

Is it linked to Boeing's ongoing technical problems?

The plane is a Boeing 737-800, a predecessor to the company's 737 Max, which has been grounded since March after its involvement in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.

But the 800 version of the jet, also known as a 737 Next Generation or NG, has had its own problems.

All of this could add to the crisis Boeing has been grappling with over the different jet, the 737 Max, but there has been no indication yet that this is a manufacturing issue.

Read more on: CNN https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-investigation/index.html

We may never know

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