Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

Flight 752 report from Iran missing evidence: TSB

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Mar, 2021 04:45 PM
  • Flight 752 report from Iran missing evidence: TSB

Canada's Transportation Safety Board says a report from Iran on the downing of a passenger jet by its military in January 2020 doesn't explain why the tragedy happened.

Board chair Kathy Fox says the final report does not include a detailed explanation or evidence about the underlying factors that caused Iran's military to fire two surface-to-air missiles at Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

All 176 people on board the jetliner were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and dozens of others bound for Canada.

Fox says the TSB, Canada's air-safety investigator, does not believe the results from the review will reduce the risk to commercial airlines operating in Iran's airspace.

It is unusual for the TSB to comment on the results of a report into an incident that took place in another country. Under international civil aviation rules, the country where the incident took place is in charge of the investigation.

But Fox says the "unprecedented situation" where the Iranian military effectively oversaw the investigation, the agency felt it had to speak out about its concerns with the final report.

The final report from Iran's civil aviation body blamed "human error" as the reason why the Revolutionary Guard shot down the jetliner minutes after it took off from Tehran on Jan. 8 last year.

The Canadian government has rejected the report outright, describing it as "incomplete" and devoid of "hard facts or evidence."

Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said an operator fired two surface-to-air missiles after misidentifying the Boeing 737-800 as a "hostile target" and despite not getting a green light from superiors, per procedure.

Fox says Iran has not provided evidence to support the scenario, noting it is "a plausible explanation for what happened."

A group representing families of the victims also dismissed the report findings as riddled with inconsistencies and "fabrications" that are "grossly inadequate" to explain the shootdown.

Iran initially denied responsibility for the crash, but three days later said the Kyiv-bound aircraft was shot down by accident after being mistaken for a missile amid heightened tensions with the United States. The admission came after video footage on social media appeared to show at least one missile striking the jet.

The disaster unfolded hours after Iran launched missiles into Iraq at two American military bases in retaliation for the U.S. having killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport by order of then-U.S. president Donald Trump.

Fox says the report only partially explains why the airspace remained open and active for commercial airlines after the military action.

"It does not explain any of the underlying factors behind why the missiles were launched at PS752, the stated cause of this tragedy," Fox says.

"In short, the report says what happened, but doesn’t address the why."

Ralph Goodale, the former Liberal public safety minister who was named Canada's special adviser on the response to the crash, called the report unconvincing, "shambolic" and "insulting" to loved ones.

Britain, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Sweden also lost citizens when the plane was destroyed, and the countries formed a coalition with Canada to deal with Iran, demanding reparations and a more transparent report.

MORE National ARTICLES

Advocates critical of new worker quarantine rules

Advocates critical of new worker quarantine rules
Ottawa announced adjustments Tuesday that mean workers arriving in Canada will no longer be exempt from quarantine hotels for incoming travellers.

Advocates critical of new worker quarantine rules

Iran report blames error for downing of Flight 752

Iran report blames error for downing of Flight 752
The report, which Canada's Transportation Safety Board will comment on Thursday, backs up what the Iranian military said last year: human error caused the tragedy.

Iran report blames error for downing of Flight 752

Female officer 'disgusted,' quits Canadian Forces

Female officer 'disgusted,' quits Canadian Forces
“For me, the breach of trust has been too much, and my release is the best tool at my disposal to highlight the depth of my disappointment.”

Female officer 'disgusted,' quits Canadian Forces

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78
The former lawyer, New Democrat member of Parliament and member of the B.C. legislature died Monday at his Vancouver home at the age of 78.

B.C. politician Ian Waddell dies at 78

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays
B.C. Emergency Health Services is responsible for call intake and dispatch, and the mayors say many municipal firefighters are trained and licensed to administer an enhanced level of emergency medical care to patients.

Group of B.C. mayors concerned by ambulance delays

Suspicious fire in Whalley

Suspicious fire in Whalley
On March 15, 2021 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Surrey RCMP was called to assist the Surrey Fire Service with a vehicle fire, in the 10700-block of 133 Street.

Suspicious fire in Whalley