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A Prayer For The Victims of The Downed Ukraine Airline in Tehran

Published January 9th, 2020 - 07:29 GMT

A Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 176 passengers and crew has crashed near Tehran just hours after Iran launched a missile attack on US bases in Iraq in revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. 

Ukrainian International Airlines crashed in the early hours of Wednesday morning just three minutes after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport.

It sparked speculation that the jet could have been shot down accidentally by nervous Iranian air defense soldiers, hours after Iran fired 15 ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq.

Iranian officials said the pilot had lost control of the Boeing jet after a fire struck one of the plane's engines, but did not say what caused the fire.  

The Ukrainian embassy in Tehran reported that the crash had been caused by an engine failure rather than terrorism.  

But the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines 737 is a dramatic development and will increase tension if the jetliner has been shot down by the Iranians. 

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences in a message from Oman.

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A child's shoe is pictured on January 8, 2020 at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran. Search-and-rescue teams were combing through the smoking wreckage of the Boeing 737 flight from Tehran to Kiev but officials said there was no hope of finding anyone alive. The vast majority of the passengers on the Ukraine International Airlines flight were non-Ukrainians, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians, officials said. Born

A child's shoe is pictured on January 8, 2020 at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran. Search-and-rescue teams were combing through the smoking wreckage of the Boeing 737 flight from Tehran to Kiev but officials said there was no hope of finding anyone alive. The vast majority of the passengers on the Ukraine International Airlines flight were non-Ukrainians, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians, officials said. Borna GHASSEMI / ISNA / AFP

Rescue teams work amidst debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP

Rescue teams work amidst debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP

Bystanders watch from a behind a cordon as rescue teams work after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP

Bystanders watch from a behind a cordon as rescue teams work after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP

A woman weeps during a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020 for the four graduate students who were killed in a plane crash in Iran. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

A woman weeps during a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020 for the four graduate students who were killed in a plane crash in Iran. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

Flowers, candles and a placard reading "Tehran-Kiev We mourn" are seen placed outside the Iranian embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020, in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine Inte

Flowers, candles and a placard reading "Tehran-Kiev We mourn" are seen placed outside the Iranian embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020, in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Canadians, officials in Kiev said. The crash occured with tensions high in the Middle East and shortly after Tehran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP

A woman with her daughter lay flowers outside the Canadian Embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020 in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Ca

A woman with her daughter lay flowers outside the Canadian Embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020 in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Canadians, officials in Kiev said. The crash occured with tensions high in the Middle East and shortly after Tehran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP

Portraits of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran, are seen at a memorial at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Wednesday killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP

Portraits of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran, are seen at a memorial at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Wednesday killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP

Mourners sign books of condolence at a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Ghazal Nourian. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

Mourners sign books of condolence at a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Ghazal Nourian. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Milad Nahavandi. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Milad Nahavandi. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

A child's shoe is pictured on January 8, 2020 at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran. Search-and-rescue teams were combing through the smoking wreckage of the Boeing 737 flight from Tehran to Kiev but officials said there was no hope of finding anyone alive. The vast majority of the passengers on the Ukraine International Airlines flight were non-Ukrainians, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians, officials said. Born
Rescue teams work amidst debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
Bystanders watch from a behind a cordon as rescue teams work after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
A woman weeps during a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020 for the four graduate students who were killed in a plane crash in Iran. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Flowers, candles and a placard reading "Tehran-Kiev We mourn" are seen placed outside the Iranian embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020, in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine Inte
A woman with her daughter lay flowers outside the Canadian Embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020 in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Ca
Portraits of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran, are seen at a memorial at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Wednesday killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
Mourners sign books of condolence at a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Ghazal Nourian. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Milad Nahavandi. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
A child's shoe is pictured on January 8, 2020 at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran. Search-and-rescue teams were combing through the smoking wreckage of the Boeing 737 flight from Tehran to Kiev but officials said there was no hope of finding anyone alive. The vast majority of the passengers on the Ukraine International Airlines flight were non-Ukrainians, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians, officials said. Born
A child's shoe is pictured on January 8, 2020 at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran. Search-and-rescue teams were combing through the smoking wreckage of the Boeing 737 flight from Tehran to Kiev but officials said there was no hope of finding anyone alive. The vast majority of the passengers on the Ukraine International Airlines flight were non-Ukrainians, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians, officials said. Borna GHASSEMI / ISNA / AFP
Rescue teams work amidst debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
Rescue teams work amidst debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
Bystanders watch from a behind a cordon as rescue teams work after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
Bystanders watch from a behind a cordon as rescue teams work after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The Boeing 737 had left Tehran's international airport bound for Kiev, semi-official news agency ISNA said, adding that 10 ambulances were sent to the crash site. AFP
A woman weeps during a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020 for the four graduate students who were killed in a plane crash in Iran. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
A woman weeps during a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020 for the four graduate students who were killed in a plane crash in Iran. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Flowers, candles and a placard reading "Tehran-Kiev We mourn" are seen placed outside the Iranian embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020, in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine Inte
Flowers, candles and a placard reading "Tehran-Kiev We mourn" are seen placed outside the Iranian embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020, in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Canadians, officials in Kiev said. The crash occured with tensions high in the Middle East and shortly after Tehran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
A woman with her daughter lay flowers outside the Canadian Embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020 in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Ca
A woman with her daughter lay flowers outside the Canadian Embassy in Kiev on January 8, 2020 in remembrance of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran. A Ukrainian airliner carrying 176 people from seven countries crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020 killing all on board. The vast majority of the passengers on the Boeing 737, which had been flying from Tehran to Kiev for Ukraine International Airlines, were Iranians and Canadians, officials in Kiev said. The crash occured with tensions high in the Middle East and shortly after Tehran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
Portraits of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran, are seen at a memorial at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Wednesday killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
Portraits of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crash in the Iranian capital Tehran, are seen at a memorial at the Boryspil airport outside Kiev on January 8, 2020. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran Wednesday killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
Mourners sign books of condolence at a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Ghazal Nourian. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Mourners sign books of condolence at a memorial service at Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Ghazal Nourian. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Milad Nahavandi. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP
Western University in London, Ontario on January 8, 2020, for 4 of the school’s graduate students who were killed in the plane crash in Iran, including Milad Nahavandi. A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 people on board, in a disaster striking a region rattled by heightened military tensions. Geoff Robins / AFP

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