Iranian missile downed airliner, Trudeau says
Posted January 9, 2020 11:58 am.
Last Updated January 9, 2020 2:12 pm.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says intelligence from multiple sources indicates that an Iranian missile downed the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed near Tehran on Wednesday.
He says the strike might have been unintentional.
“Canada is working with its allies to ensure that a thorough and credible investigation is conducted to determine the causes of this fatal crash,” he says.
The crash killed all on board, including 138 people who were headed to Canada. At least 63 people on the plane were Canadian citizens.
RELATED: Canadian investigators to join Tehran crash probe, Iran says
Trudeau says he knows the news will come as a shock to grieving families.
Ukrainian officials have said a missile is on their list of potential causes for the crash.
The plane crashed minutes after taking off from Tehran’s airport on Wednesday.
U.S. officials said Thursday it was “highly likely” that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile downed the jetliner. They also suggested it could well have been a mistake. They wouldn’t say what intelligence they had that pointed to an Iranian missile. However, they acknowledged the existence of satellites and other sensors in the region, as well as the likelihood of communication interceptions and other similar intelligence.
With files from the Associated Press.
