By Jennifer Y Omiloli
After a Ukrainian aircraft carrying at least 180 people crashed Wednesday near the capital’s airport, Tehran, Iran responded.
The crash occurred hours after a ballistic missile was launched by Iran, targeting two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces in retaliation for killing Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
According to Iranian State TV, there was no immediate word on casualties, adding that the crash is believed to have been caused by mechanical problems.
The plane had taken off from the international airport of Imam Khomeini.
The spokesman for Iranian Civil Aviation, Reza Jafarzadeh, said an investigation team was at the crash site in Tehran’s southwestern outskirts.
“After taking off from Imam Khomeini international airport, it crashed between Parand and Shahriar,’’ Jafarzadeh said.
“An investigation team from the national aviation department was dispatched to the location after the news was announced.”
According to FlightRadar24 website, flight data from the airport showed a Ukrainian 737-800 flew by Ukraine International Airlines began Wednesday morning and then stopped sending data almost immediately afterwards.
