This isn’t terribly surprising, but it is terribly unfortunate.
According to three sources who spoke to Newsweek for an exclusive published Thursday, the 737 which crashed near Tehran earlier this week was probably hit by an anti-aircraft missile.
The plane – which fell off the radar at 8,000 feet, where it caught fire and then plunged to the ground, killing all 176 people on board – attempted to turn back after takeoff, Iran said Thursday.
A Pentagon official, a senior US intelligence official and an Iraqi intelligence official, each told Newsweek that in all likelihood, the plane was accidentally struck by a Russia-built Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile system, known to NATO as “Gauntlet”.
Iran had just finished firing 16 rockets at US targets in Iraq when the plane crashed, and it’s likely that the country’s air defense systems were activated at the time in case of a US counterstrike.
Justin Trudeau would later hold a press conference which essentially served as confirmation.
“The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile”, he said. “This new information reinforces the need for a thorough investigation into this matter”. Dozens of Canadians were killed in the incident.
Various theories have been floated, including a missile strike, a malfunction, a mid-air collision or a terror attack.
“American agencies including the National Transport Safety Board are weighing whether it’s legal to engage with Iranian authorities under terms of sanctions against the country, according to people familiar with the matter”, Bloomberg notes, adding that “they’re also concerned about sending people to Iran given recent military strikes”.
Of course, the fact that the plane was manufactured by Boeing introduced yet another element of uncertainty given the company’s ongoing trials and tribulations.
Boeing’s shares spiked Thursday on the Newsweek report.
Images of purported missile debris have been circulated on social media, but remain unconfirmed.
No matter how you slice it, this is a senseless tragedy.
If it was, in fact, an errant missile which brought down the 737, that means the death toll from this past week’s hostilities is 176 more than the people killed in the drone strike on Qassem Soleimani.
Additionally, some pictures online of the wing debris appear to show shrapnel damage. That supports the likelihood of an explosion. If this article proves correct, it’s a ghastly mistake.
Accidently??
Typically , more detailed versions of last 4 days events and several with credibility exist currently on the alternative media… I am not mentioning this for any reason only offering to add insight to how EVERYTHING seems to operate nowadays….Control the narrative , advertise , click bait , polarize , Rev the base….it is all Public opinion and Propaganda and everyone plays….
The Russians have the Iranian’s ear. Want to strike back at America (Boeing) while we make life miserable for the Ukrainians?? Here’s a way to do both without having to worry about reprisals AND we’ll give you a deal on a new order for our missiles. And you get even with the Americans for having shot down one of Iran’s commercial jets (and that was an accident?)
I agree with George. We don’t have a clue about behind the scenes orchestration of the Soleimani killing and the shooting down of the plane. Everyone making nice so quickly along with the total lack of disclosure to congress suggests a tacit agreement at best. The narrative is too simple, too quick and too controlled.
My opinion is that the missile strike was mainly to show-off their abilities. They don’t want to goad the US. And in a way, it makes Iran look like they are the “better man” by taking the high road. I honestly don’t think the missile strike is Iran’s response to taking out Soleimani. This is just a feint, with the bonus that Trump is largely getting negative press. The real response will probably occur months from now and not be directly connected to Iran. i.e. something big will likely get suicide bombed.
The downed airliner is just a tragedy in a much bigger plot. Even if it’s an Iranian accident (and we know it most certainly is), I’m surprised they haven’t spun this as, “it would have never happened if the US had just left us alone; the deaths are on their hands”.