Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane crashes in Iran

A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-3E7 lands at at Israel's Ben Gurion International airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv on July 4, 2017. Iran reported a Ukrainian plane crashed on January 8, 2020 shortly after take-off in Tehran carrying 170 passengers. PHOTO | AFP 

By AGENCIES
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Summary

• The plane was bound for Kiev, Ukraine.
• Boeing said the company was aware of media reports of a plane crash in Iran and was gathering more information.

A Boeing 737 plane carrying 170 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran early Wednesday, Iranian media reported.

Early reports indicate that the Ukrane International Airlines plane may have crashed due to technical difficulties.

The plane was bound for Kiev, Ukraine.

It crashed about eight minutes after takeoff, flight tracking websites indicate.

Local media reported that ambulances were sent to the crash site. 

“The plane is on fire but we have sent crews ... and we may be able to save some passengers.” Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Iran’s emergency services, told the state television IRNA.

He later said: “The fire is so heavy that we cannot (do) any rescue... we have 22 ambulances, four bus ambulances and a helicopter at the site.”

Reza Jafarzadeh, a spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, put the number of passengers on board the flight at 170.

According to air tracking service FlightRadar24, the plane that crashed was on Flight PS 752.

IRNA said according to preliminary information “the plane was bound for Kiev ... and had 180 passengers and crew.”

Boeing said the company was aware of media reports of a plane crash in Iran and was gathering more information.

There were no suggested links between the crash and Iran's Wednesday morning missile strikes on American bases in Iraq.