Iran admits shooting down Ukraine jet by mistake, killing 176

New Delhi : Iran now admits it “unintentionally” shot down the Ukrainian International Airlines passenger jet that went down near Tehran airport on Wednesday, and blames “human error”, the Associated Press reports.

The plane crash, which killed 176 people, happened soon after Iranian missile strikes targeted Iraqi bases housing US-led coalition personnel – an offensive launched in retaliation for the killing of Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on Jan. 3, 2020.

Earlier Iran denied for days that the aircraft had been shot down, but the US and Canada said they believed otherwise, citing intelligence. A video doing the rounds on social media showing a light flashing in the sky with a explosion sound showing the precise moment of impact.

A military statement carried by state media said the plane was mistaken for a hostile target after it turned toward a sensitive military center of the Revolutionary Guards. The military was at its highest level of readiness, it said, amid the heightened tensions with the US.

“Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake,” Iranian president Hassan Rouhani tweeted