President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky declared January 9 a day of mourning in the country in connection with the crash of a Ukrainian plane in Iran. All 176 people on the Ukrainian-operated Boeing jet were killed when it crashed minutes after takeoff from Imam Khomeini airport, Tehran's main international airport, IPN reports.
The aircraft, bound for Kiev, reportedly had nationals of Ukraine, Canada, Germany, Sweden, the UK and Afghanistan on board. All nine crew members were Ukrainian.
In a televised statement, President Zelenskiy said a detailed, independent inquiry will be conducted in accordance with the international norms.
The case will be investigated by a commission set up by the Iran Civil Aviation Organization. A number of 45 Ukrainian specialists of search and rescue teams left for Iran and some of them are expected to be included in the commission.
A technical failure is suspected of having brought the plane down. The authorities in Ukraine are also considering other eventual causes of the crash.
Prime Minister Ion Chicu and President Igor Dodon transmitted messages of condolence over the plane crash.
