Passenger plane flying from Tehran to Ukraine crashed on Wednesday. Investigators believe antiaircraft missile could have hit it.
The jet was seen burning in the air. Crew of another flight in the vicinity said the same. It added the jet was turning back to Tehran before crashing. It exploded near an amusement park.
The Boeing 737 took off for Kyiv, capital city of Ukrain, on Wednesday. It departed from Tehran at 6:12 am and before losing contact with ground control reached about 8,000 feet.
Iranian Civil Aviation Organization head Ali Abedzadeh said the jet was moving toward the west. He added that the jet turned to the right after encountering problem. It was approaching the airport again before crashing.
Ukraine sent a plane carrying 45 experts and search-and-rescue personnel early Thursday to Tehran to join the investigation and identify bodies of 11 on board.
The team includes specialists who supported the investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July 2014, said Ukraine’s commission. Flight 17 had crashed Ukraine then.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government suspended all the flights of the country over Iranian airspace until investigation determines the tragedy.
Investigators have recovered flight data and voice recorders from the site. However, it is in damaged condition.
Iran declined to share the recorder boxes with Boeing but invites other countries to take part in the investigation.
