Breaking: Ukrainian Plane Was ‘Unintentionally’ Shut Down, Iran TV Says
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country “unintentionally” shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard.
The statement came Saturday morning and blamed “human error” for the downing.
Iran has admitted shooting down a Ukrainian Airlines plane and killing 176 people.
But the country insists the jet was brought down “unintentionally” due to human error.
The admission came on via Iranian state television, citing a statement from the country’s military.
The statement claimed the plane had flown close to a sensitive military site belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter “A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:
“Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster.
“Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations.”
Therefore, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau says a total of 138 passengers aboard the plane that crashed outside Tehran were connecting to Canada.
The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800, bound for Kyiv, crashed shortly after taking off from the Iranian capital, killing all 176 people on board.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said the plane was carrying 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians, 11 Ukrainian passengers and crew, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three Britons.
Trudeau says there were 138 empty seats on a plane that landed in Toronto Wednesday afternoon. They were supposed to be filled by people aboard the downed flight who were set to connect in Kyiv.
