Advertisement

UN investigator says questions remain over whether Iran intentionally downed Ukraine jet

Click to play video: 'Father of Iran plane crash victim struggles with loss, one year later'
Father of Iran plane crash victim struggles with loss, one year later
WATCH: Father of Iran plane crash victim struggles with loss, one year later – Jan 8, 2021

Inconsistencies in the Iran government’s explanation of the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane last year raise questions over whether it was intentional, an independent U.N. investigator said on Tuesday, but she had found no concrete evidence that it was.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane on Jan. 8, 2020, in error shortly after takeoff, mistaking it for a missile at a time when tensions with Washington were high over the U.S. assassination five days earlier of Guards General Qassem Soleimani.

All 176 people on board were killed, 138 of whom had ties to Canada.

Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, told reporters she had found no concrete evidence that the targeting of the plane was premeditated and intentional.

Story continues below advertisement

But she added that “inconsistencies in the official explanation and the reckless nature of the mistakes have led many, including myself, to question whether the downing of flight PS752 was intentional.”

Click to play video: 'Calgary teen killed in Iran plan crash remembered with memorial scholarship'
Calgary teen killed in Iran plan crash remembered with memorial scholarship

Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Callamard said Tehran’s explanation contained a number of contradictions, including on the timing of the window to fire and on communication. It has provided no information on why flights that took off earlier that night were not targeted, she said.

Callamard said the question of whether the plane was shot down intentionally needed to be further investigated, including by Iran.

Story continues below advertisement

“They have not proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the plane was not intentionally targeted,” she said.

Click to play video: 'Iran plane crash: Ford addresses families of victims of Flight PS752'
Iran plane crash: Ford addresses families of victims of Flight PS752

The Iranian authorities failed to investigate the strike in line with international standards, Callamard said, citing that Iran’s government continued to deny the flight had been shot down for three days and that it appears evidence was destroyed.

Callamard said she sent the Iranian government a letter in December detailing her investigation and requesting answers about the strike, but has yet to receive a response.

The decision not to quickly publicly state that the plane was shot down in an Iranian strike constitutes “an extremely grave violation of the right to life,” she said.

Story continues below advertisement

Callamard also questioned why Iran had not closed its airspace for civilian traffic that night amid the concern that tensions with the United States could increase.

Sponsored content

AdChoices