Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Ukrainian Interior Ministry Expects Iran Identify Plane Crash Victims’ Bodies, Return Them to Kyiv

Ukrainian Interior Ministry Expects Iran Identify Plane Crash Victims’ Bodies, Return Them to Kyiv

KYIV - The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has handed over to Tehran the DNA samples collected from the relatives of the people killed in the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 737 and expects the Iranian side to identify the bodies and return them to Kyiv.
"We're now waiting for the Iranian side to identify the bodies and return them to Kyiv," the press service for the Interior Ministry wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
The Interior Ministry handed over to Tehran the DNA samples collected from the relatives of the deceased and sent the electronic DNA formula to the Ukrainian experts working at the scene of the tragedy earlier on Saturday, the press service said.
As reported, Iranian media said earlier citing the statement of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces that Iranian troops had downed the Ukrainian Boeing by mistake.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described the crash of the Ukrainian plane as a "great tragedy" and an "unforgivable mistake." "Armed Forces' internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people," Rouhani wrote on Twitter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine expects Iran to admit his guilt in full and conclude the investigation.
As reported earlier, a Boeing 737-800 operated by UIA and traveling from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran early on Wednesday morning, killing all 167 passengers and 9 crewmembers onboard. (Interfax)