Nations file UN criticism over Boeing 737-800 shot down by Iran in 2020 | Aviation Information

The Ukraine Worldwide Airways aircraft was hit by two missiles Iran says had been fired in error shortly after takeoff, killing 176 folks.

Canada, Sweden, the UK and Ukraine have filed a criticism with the United Nations civil aviation company in opposition to Iran for taking pictures down a passenger aircraft in 2020, killing 176 folks.

The 4 nations, which all had residents on board the Ukraine Worldwide Airways flight, accused Tehran of “utilizing weapons in opposition to a civil plane in flight in breach of its worldwide authorized obligations”.

The Boeing 737-800 was shot down shortly after takeoff from Tehran on January 8, 2020, amid rising tensions with the USA following the assassination of Iranian Basic Qassem Soleimani.

Three days later, Iran admitted that its Revolutionary Guard had fired two missiles on the aircraft, which was heading to Kyiv, by mistake.

The 4 nations mentioned they opened “dispute settlement proceedings” with the UN’s Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO) in Montreal.

The transfer was “an necessary step in our dedication to making sure that the households of the victims impacted by this tragedy get the justice they deserve”, mentioned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended a memorial service in Ontario to mark the fourth anniversary of the catastrophe.

The nations have already filed a case with the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, searching for reparations from Iran for the households of the victims.

They mentioned Iran had “didn’t conduct an neutral, clear and honest prison investigation and prosecution according to worldwide regulation”.

In April final yr, an Iranian court docket issued preliminary sentences for 10 unnamed folks accused of involvement within the incident, together with the operator of an air defence system.

Iran has additionally set compensation of $150,000 for every of the households of the victims and mentioned in 2022 it had begun making the funds.

Tehran has rejected claims that it’s not cooperating or being clear and has accused the 4 governments of making an attempt to “politicise” the problem.

It has filed its personal case with the ICJ, accusing Canada of violating its “worldwide obligations” by permitting folks to hunt civil damages in opposition to Tehran.