Ukraine plane struck by two missiles: NYT
[WASHINGTON] Two Iranian missiles struck down a Ukrainian passenger jet, the New York Times reported Tuesday, posting verified security camera footage showing double projectiles gliding through the sky before hitting their target.
The missiles were fired 30 seconds apart and help explain a mystery as to why the plane's transponder was not working - it was disabled by the first strike, before being hit by a second, the Times said.
The Ukraine International Airlines plane was brought down shortly after takeoff on Wednesday, killing all 176 passengers and crew on board.
Tehran had for days denied Western claims based on US intelligence that the Boeing 737 had been downed by a missile.
It came clean on Saturday when Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh acknowledged a missile operator had mistaken the plane for a cruise missile and opened fire independently.
The blurry footage shows the plane on fire and circling back to Tehran's airport, the Times said. Minutes later, it exploded and crashed.
The footage was shot from a rooftop in Bidkaneh, a village 6.4km from an Iranian military site, the Times said.
Hundreds of angry protesters, most of them student, have taken to the streets in the wake of the tragedy, chanting slogans against the Islamic republic.
Iran announced its first arrests over the accidental shooting on Tuesday, without naming who or how many people had been detained.
AFP
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Transport & Logistics
GM CEO Barra compensation fell 4% in 2023 to US$27.8 million
Boeing reports first revenue drop in 7 quarters as deliveries decline
Volkswagen to keep China market share stable as price war rages
COE quota for May-July up 2.7%; passenger car categories rise despite less cut-and-fill
Tesla profits tumble but shares rise on new vehicle plan
Volvo Cars see good demand this year after higher Q1 unit sales