Ukrainian airliner crashes killing all 176 aboard

DUBAI/KIEV (Reuters): A Ukrainian airliner crashed and burst into flames shortly after take-off from Tehran early yesterday, killing all 176 people on board.

Debris and smouldering parts from the Boeing 737, which carrier Ukraine International Airlines said was last serviced two days ago, were strewn across a field southwest of the Iranian capital as rescue workers with face masks retrieved bodies. 

Debris of a plane belonging to Ukraine International Airlines, that crashed after taking off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, is seen on the outskirts of Tehran - Reuters

Among the victims were 82 from Iran, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, three Germans and three Britons, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said. 

Most passengers were in transit, the airline said.

Ukraine’s embassy in Iran said the causes of the crash had not been disclosed and any previous comments were not official. 

An embassy official said Iranian authorities had asked it to rescind an earlier statement from Iran based on preliminary information that had blamed the accident on engine failure.

Iranian TV said the crash was due to unspecified technical problems, and Iranian media quoted a local aviation official as saying the pilot did not declare an emergency.

It was Kiev-based Ukraine International Airlines’ first fatal accident. 

The carrier said it was doing everything possible to confirm the cause, and the investigation would also involve Boeing and national authorities.

Under international rules Iran has responsibility for investigating the crash. 

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said one of the plane’s two black boxes had been found. 

Semi-official news agency Mehr quoted the head of the country’s civil aviation authority as saying Iran would not give the recorder to Boeing.