Iranian missile downed airliner, Trudeau says
Posted Jan 9, 2020 12:50:35 PM.
Last Updated Jan 9, 2020 06:43:37 PM.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says intelligence from multiple sources indicates that an Iranian missile downed the Ukraine International Airlines flight that crashed near Tehran on Wednesday.
He says the strike might have been unintentional.
WATCH NOW: Trudeau’s press conference on Ukrainian Airlines investigation
Trudeau’s announcement coming hours after Donald Trump said it was “Highly Likely” that Iran down the aircraft.
READ MORE: U.S. officials: ‘Highly likely’ Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner
Opening his press conference by stating “I know the news will come as a shock to grieving families”
BREAKING: PM @JustinTrudeau says there is intelligence and evidence that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile.
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 9, 2020
In a statement made by Iran’s civil aviation authority earlier today, Canadian investigators have been invited to the crash site.
The plane crashed minutes after taking off from Tehran’s airport on Wednesday.
Trudeau repeatedly said there needs to be a complete and thorough investigation to get “a complete picture of what happened.”
He says it’s too soon to blame the United States, which triggered a chain of events that led to the crash with its killing of a top Iranian general last week.
Local reaction to US news reports that American officials are "confident that Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner in the hours after the Iranian missile attack on U.S. targets" (via @CBSNews) #yeg #TehranPlaneCrash https://t.co/5RarBEon8Z
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) January 9, 2020
The crash killed all on board, including 138 people who were headed to Canada. At least 63 people on the plane were Canadian citizens.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford added his condolences to Twitter.
JUST IN – Premier Ford on the plane crash developments. pic.twitter.com/XQhhwRWZe3
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) January 9, 2020
Ukrainian officials have said a missile is on their list of potential causes for the crash.
With concerns about an open international investigation and concerns surrounding Iran’s decision to hold onto the black boxes. Trudeau confirmed that Iran will allow Ukrainian investigators to have access to the boxes.
Trudeau: “Iran says they’ll be keeping the black boxes in Iran, but will allow Ukrainian investigators” access to them.
— Adrian Ghobrial (@AdrianGhobrial) January 9, 2020
During the conference, Trudeau was asked if he thought that the plane crash could be considered an act of war.
Reporter: Does Canada consider this an act of war?
Trudeau: I think it is too early to draw definitive conclusions that one, that is why we need a complete investigation
— Melissa Duggan (@meldug) January 9, 2020
Earlier today, US President Donald Trump suggested he believes Iran was responsible, without laying direct blame.
He told reporters that “Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side, noting the plane was flying in a ”pretty rough neighbourhood.“
Trudeau said he had no comment on what Trump had said.
More to come…