According to CNN, Iran has said it will not hand over the flight data recorders to the manufacturer [Boeing] or America.
The Boeing 737 jet, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, has crashed that killed all 176 people on board a plane that came down shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s international airport.
The Flight PS752 took off early on Wednesday en route to the Ukrainian capital Kiev with 167 passengers and nine crew on board.
There were no survivors among the 167 passengers and nine crew members bound for Kyiv’s Boryspil airport. 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians died in the crash, which took place between the cities of Parand and Shahriar. There were also 10 Swedes, 4 Afghans, 3 Germans and 3 British nationals among the victims. All crew members were Ukrainian, a media statement.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported they have found the “black boxes” of the Ukrainian Boeing 737. The black boxes ( flight data recorder) stores cockpit conversations and other data instrumental to the investigation.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority, Ali Abedzadeh, said Iran would analyze the black boxes themselves. They could provide crucial evidence about what happened to the plane leading up to the crash.
Under international rules, Ukraine should participate in the investigation as the state of registry and state of operator, as should the US as the state of design and manufacture of the Boeing aircraft.
“He would cancel the rest of his current trip to Oman and would return to Kiev due to the crash. My sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all passengers and crew members,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Facebook post.
In next post on Facebook, Zelensky said, “his government is sending a team of experts and security officials to Iran Wednesday evening. “Our priority is to establish the truth and those responsible for this terrible catastrophe.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif. “Agreed to coordinate further actions of our investigation groups closely to determine the cause of the terrible plane crash,” tweeted Prystaiko.
Canadian Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne said in a tweet “Tragic news regarding Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims, including many Canadians. I have been in touch with the government of Ukraine. We will continue to keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves.”
