Zelensky Opens Criminal Investigation into Boeing 737 Crash in Tehran

Jan. 8, 2020 (EIRNS)—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today reversed Ukraine’s initial acceptance of Iran’s report that the Ukrainian Boeing 737, which crashed this morning after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people onboard, had a faulty engine or other mechanical failure. He said, as reported in the New York Times and elsewhere, that he was opening a criminal investigation.

The plane was cleared in maintenance on Jan. 6, it was reported. Also, Ukrainian International Airlines vice president of operations Ihor Sosnovsky said in a statement on Wednesday, “According to our records, the aircraft ascended as high as 2,400 meters. Given the crew’s experience, error probability is minimal. We do not even consider such a chance.”