In Pictures: Tehran plane crash claims 63 Canadian lives

A plane crash in Iran’s capital of Tehran claimed the lives of 63 Canadians, 176 people in total, early Wednesday morning.

According to Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, Vadym Prystaiko, 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians and 11 Ukrainians were on board the flight en route to Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Ukrainian nationals included two passengers and the nine crew. There were also 10 Swedish, four Afghan, three German and three British nationals on the flight that killed all aboard.

READ MORE: 63 Canadians killed in plane crash near Tehran: Ukrainian official

The fatal crash occurred early in the morning, just hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers. However, Ukrainian and Iranian officials have both said a mechanical issue likely caused the Boeing 737-800 plane — an aircraft with a good safety record — to crash.

Hossein Kohshqelqat arrived at the scene shortly after the crash. He said what he witnessed was “really tragic.”

“It was terrible,” he said. “When I arrived there it was full of debris and the cleanup operation was underway.”

He said the crash was not contained to one area, with debris spread across the farmland and in the harbour.

READ MORE: Ukraine airliner crash near Tehran kills all on board: Iranian official

“There were two or three different parts of the crash,” he said. “You know, these airplanes fell apart in the air.”

Kohshqelqat said he could see shoes, clothing and souvenirs in the debris. Family members of potential victims, he added, were searching desperately to see if they could find anything that belonged to their loved ones.

“They were tearful. They were really shocked,” he said. “And they were just desperately looking for their loved ones.”

Photos show haunting left-overs of the wreckage, including shoes, purses, clothing and snacks presumably packed by some of the Boeing 737-800’s passengers.

—With files from Hannah Jackson.

meaghan.wray@globalnews.ca