Ukrainian Plane Crashes after Take-off in Iran, All 170 Aboard Killed

Iran

January 8th, 6:11am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Passengers wait for their flight at the departure area of Boryspil International Airport as an airplane of Ukraine International Airlines is seen in the background, outside Kiev, Ukraine October 24, 2015. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/Files

A Ukrainian plane carrying at least 170 people crashed shortly after take off in Tehran killing all on board. The Boeing 737 belonging to Ukraine International Airlines had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev. Press TV, state television's English-language news broadcaster, said the plane went down in the vicinity of Parand, a city in Tehran province. The crash was likely to have been caused by "technical difficulties", it reported, citing Ali Khashani, the airport spokesman. "The plane caught fire after crashing," said Press TV. A video aired by the state media broadcaster appeared to show the plane already on fire, falling from the sky. Iranian state television showed footage from the site of the crash of Red Crescent search and rescue teams scouring an open field with debris strewn across it. American airline manufacturer Boeing tweeted: "We are aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information." According to air tracking service FlightRadar24, the plane that crashed was Flight PS 752 and was three years old.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2071931/ukrainian-plane-crashes-after-take-iran-all-170-aboard-killed