A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 has crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran’s international airport, killing all 176 passengers and crew onboard.
The early morning disaster was caused by “technical failure following a fire” on board the flight destined for Kyiv, Ali Kashani, the airport’s spokesman, told the state news agency IRNA. The Ukrainian embassy in Tehran said that engine failure was to blame for the disaster, not “terrorism”.
The aeroplane crashed at 6am local time and about six minutes after take-off, according to local media, which added that the aeroplane came down near Parand, a town 35km south-west of Tehran.