Human Error at Time of Crisis Caused by US Adventurism Led to Disaster: Iran’s Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said “human error” was behind the downing of a Ukrainian plane that crashed Wednesday southwest of the Iranian capital Tehran.
“A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster. Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations,” Zarif said in a tweet on Saturday.
It came after the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran said in a statement earlier in the day that the country’s military "unintentionally" shot down the passenger jet after it flew close to a sensitive site.
Those responsible would be held accountable, the statement said.
The victims of Wednesday’s crash included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three British nationals.
All 179 people on board the Boeing 737, including nine crew, were killed when the jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport on Wednesday morning.
The plane operated by Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) was bound for Kiev.