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Reports: US Officials Believe Iranian Missile Brought Down Ukrainian Plane

VOA News

   U.S. media reports say American intelligence officials believe it is
   likely an Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed shortly after taking off
   from Tehran was brought down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile.

   Details are still coming in.

   "Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side," President
   Donald Trump said when asked about the crash Thursday, noting the plane
   was flying in a "pretty rough neighborhood."

   Iranian investigators said Thursday the crew of a Ukrainian passenger
   jet had tried to turn back after takeoff early Wednesday and that the
   pilot made no radio communications about any problems.

   The initial report from iran's Civil Aviation Organization also cited
   witnesses on the ground and in a passing aircraft as saying the Ukraine
   International Airlines plane was on fire before it hit the ground.

   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared Thursday a day of
   mourning for the 167 passengers and nine crew members who died when the
   plane bound for Kyiv crashed early Wednesday.

   Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said the dead included 82
   Iranians and 63 Canadians along with Ukrainians, Swedes, Afghans,
   Germans and Britons.

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