Iran refuses to hand over black box after horror plane crash kills 176

The Ukraine International Airlines crashed at about 6.20am this morning, killing everyone on board. The tragedy came just hours after Tehran launched over a dozen missiles at two US bases in

Iraq, prompting some commentators to claim the plan had been shot down by Iranian air defences. But the cause of the crash is yet to be determined and Iran has vowed to shut out American

authorities from the investigation. Hours after the crash, which killed all 167 passengers and nine crew members onboard the aircraft, rescue workers discovered the plane’s two black boxes -

which records the jet’s flight data and will play a key role in determining the cause of the crash. But Iran is refusing to hand the data over to international authorities. Speaking to

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority, Ali Abedzadeh said the black boxes would be analysed in the country where the accident took place, in

accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules. He added that Ukrainian investigators would be part of the process and ruled out involving the US at this stage. He

said: “We will not give the black boxes to the manufacturer [Boeing] or America.” Ukraine’s Tehran embassy initially blamed engine failure for the cause of the crash, but has since removed

the statement and said no official comment could be made until after the investigation had concluded. Horrifying footage posted online shows the Boeing 737 engulfed in flames as it went

down, landing just outside of Tehran. Images of the jet’s debris appear to show shrapnel holes, which has prompted some experts to claim the plane was shot down. READ MORE: IRAN PLANE CRASH:

AVIATION EXPERT NOT CONVINCED IT WAS MALFUNCTION They highlighted pictures of the crash site which they said “show obvious projectile holes in the fuselage and a wing section”. But

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned against “speculation or unchecked theories regarding the catastrophe” until official reports were ready. Three Britons are confirmed to be

among the dead, according to authorities in Kyiv. The Foreign Office said it is “urgently seeking confirmation” of the British death toll, while the Ukrainian president has ordered a

criminal investigation into the crash. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had ordered the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to open criminal proceedings. He said: “An investigation

commission should be set up of representatives of the civil and aviation agencies responsible for civil aviation. We have to work out all the possible versions. “Regardless of the

conclusions regarding the causes of the Iranian catastrophe, the airworthiness of the entire civilian fleet will be tested.”