Iran Acknowledges Responsibility for Downing Passenger Jet

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization issued a preliminary report indicating the country’s military fired two surface-to-air missiles at Ukraine International Airlines Flight 572 in January causing the downing of the B737-800. The report cites several human factors that contributed to the loss of 176 passengers and crew. Shortly after the accident aircraft departed from Imam Khomeini International Airport on January 8, it was mistakenly assumed to be a missile targeting the Iranian capital. The Iranian military was on heightened alert after…