Justin Trudeau: Intelligence Says Ukraine International Airlines Plane Was Shot Down by Iranian Missile

Canadian prime minister comments on the crash of the Ukrainian airliner.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a press conference on the crash of the Ukrainian MAU plane in Tehran, which had 63 Canadian citizens on board.

The Canadian prime minister said that data from Canadian intelligence indicates the Ukrainian plane was shot down by a missile fired from Iran. Justin Trudeau acknowledged that this could have been done unintentionally. Trudeau stressed that this information may be shocking for the families of the victims, but Canadians must know it. The prime minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

Yesterday a tragedy occurred. A tragedy that shocked not only Canada but the whole world. Before continuing, I want once again to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and their loved ones. I, and all of us, — are with you.

Since my last address to the citizens of Canada, there have been ongoing negotiations with foreign ministries, heads of intelligence services and the military. We have discovered new important data about the possible causes of this deadly catastrophe, and Canadians must know about them.

This news will undoubtedly be another shock for families who are already suffering. According to our intelligence and the intelligence agencies of our allies, the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. It may have been done unintentionally.

Trudeau also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and that Canada will work closely with Ukraine in investigating the air crash. Trudeau expressed condolences to Ukrainians killed in the crash of the plane in Tehran.

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

I spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and expressed condolences to the many Ukrainians who died in this tragedy. He assured me that Ukraine is taking all necessary measures to conduct a thorough investigation. We will work closely with Ukraine and our other partners. 

According to Trudeau, the “black boxes” found at the crash site will remain in Iran, but Iran assured the Ukrainian president that Ukrainian investigators will get access to them.

Justin Trudeau also said he shared “some information” with the Ukrainian president.

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

I shared with him [Zelensky] some of the reasons why we insist that a full investigation is necessary. He, in turn, convinced me that Canada, as a good friend of Ukraine, will receive assistance in investigating this tragedy.

Asked whether Zelensky knew during the call that the plane had likely been shot down by a missile, Trudeau said: “As far as I can tell, this had already been reported in the media by that point. But I cannot say whether he was informed by his own intelligence services.”

The story is being updated.

Earlier, American media, citing sources in the Pentagon and Iranian intelligence, reported that the Ukrainian plane may have been shot down by Iranian air defenses that fired a Russian-made missile from a Tor air defense system.

US President Donald Trump, answering journalists’ questions, acknowledged that the Ukrainian plane could have been shot down “by mistake by that side”. Trump said he does not believe the version about a technical malfunction and called for waiting for the official investigation results and the study of the recovered black boxes.

Head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abedzadeh, in turn, denied reports that the Ukrainian Boeing may have been shot down by a missile. He claims that after takeoff the plane continued flying for another five minutes, and the “pilot tried to return to the airport but failed”. According to Abedzadeh, he does not understand “how a plane can be shot down by a missile or a projectile” and then the pilot “tried to return to the airport”.

A reminder: on the morning of January 8, at around 06:10 local time, a Ukrainian MAU airline plane crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran airport (Iran). There were 176 people on board, including passengers and crew. Among them were 11 Ukrainians: 2 passengers and 9 crew members. The remaining passengers were citizens of Iran (82), Canada (63), Sweden (10), Afghanistan (4), Germany (3) and the United Kingdom (3). No one survived.

The Ukrainian embassy in Iran initially said an engine had caught fire, adding that it ruled out a missile or terrorist attack, but soon deleted the statement. Later the embassy said a special commission would determine the causes of the crash, and until its decision any statements about the causes are not official.