TORONTO, CANADA – Four nations, including Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and Britain, have jointly filed a complaint with the United Nations civil aviation agency against Iran regarding the tragic 2020 plane crash that claimed the lives of 176 individuals.
The devastating incident occurred on January 8, 2020, when a Ukraine International Airlines flight, carrying mostly Canadian and Iranian passengers, crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran. The international community mourned the loss, and questions immediately arose about the cause of the crash.
Three days after the tragedy, Iran made a shocking admission – its military had mistakenly targeted the Boeing 737-800 with two surface-to-air missiles. The admission revealed a grave error that took place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization attributed the incident to the “alertness” of its ground troops who fired the missiles.
In response to Iran’s admission, the affected nations took a decisive step by lodging a complaint with the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal. The joint statement accused Iran of “using weapons against a civil aircraft in flight in breach of its international legal obligations.” This formal dispute settlement process marks a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the importance of this filing as a commitment to ensuring justice for the families impacted by the tragedy. Trudeau stated that the move was a crucial step in holding Iran accountable for its actions and providing closure to the grieving families who have been seeking answers for four long years.
Despite numerous attempts to engage in negotiations, Iran has not accepted complete culpability for the incident, leaving the affected nations with no choice but to escalate the matter through international channels. In July of the same year, the four nations appealed their case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking reparations from Iran for the victims’ families. The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, serves as a forum for peaceful resolution of disputes between states.
The joint complaint filed by Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and Britain at the ICAO against Iran is a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the 2020 plane crash. As the dispute settlement proceedings unfold, the international community will closely watch how the case progresses and whether Iran accepts responsibility for its tragic mistake.