Tehran to Hand Over Black Boxes of Downed Ukrainian Plane
A news agency and Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada reported that the Islamic Republic has agreed to hand over the black boxes of the Ukrainian passenger aircraft that was shot down by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missiles to Ukraine.
Reuters reported Wednesday evening, March 21 (March 11), citing two informed sources, that the Iranian government has promised the International Civil Aviation Organization, affiliated with the United Nations, to deliver the black boxes of the Ukrainian aircraft to responsible Ukrainian authorities within the next two weeks.
The Boeing 737 of Ukraine International Airlines, which was leaving Tehran bound for Kyiv on the morning of December 8 (January 8, 2020), was shot down by missiles of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the New Parand city in Tehran. All 176 passengers and crew members died in the incident.
In Reuters’ report, citing one of the sources, it was mentioned that there is also a possibility that the black boxes may be sent to France.
Confirmation from Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada
Andrii Shevchenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, also wrote in a tweet that Farhad Parvisi, Iran’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, said that Iran will hand over the boxes to Ukraine and, if additional specialized investigation is needed, will also send the boxes to France.
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Foreign Minister, said last Wednesday (March 5) at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv: “We expect and demand that Iran give us access to the black boxes without further delay.”
