| Резюме: | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed his government will get answers after a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed, killing at least 63 Canadians, just minutes after taking off from Iran’s capital. Trudeau said Wednesday 138 passengers on the flight were connecting to Canada. The flight included many international students who were studying at universities across Canada. Newlyweds and a Canadian family of four were also on the flight. Trudeau said his government is reaching out to his international counterparts. Getting answers from Iran might prove difficult as Canada closed its embassy in Iran in 2012 and suspended diplomatic relations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States is calling for cooperation with any investigation into the cause of the crash. The crash of the Ukraine International Airlines plane came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers, but Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue brought down the 3½-year-old Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Ukrainian officials initially agreed, but later backed away and declined to offer a cause while the investigation is ongoing. “There is a clear need for answers,” Trudeau said. “Canada is very concerned on this.” Trudeau said he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier Wednesday. Asked if he could say whether the plane was shot down or not, Trudeau said: “I cannot. It’s too early to speculate.” Trudeau said Canadian victims’ families want and deserve answers. “Know that all Canadians are grieving with you,” Trudeau said. Transport Minister Marc Garneau said he could not speculate but said soon after the departure of the plane contact was lost. He said the black box information is needed. Authorities said they found the plane’s so-called black boxes, which record cockpit conversations and instrument data. But it was not immediately clear how much access to the information the Iranians would allow. Canada is offering technical assistance to the upcoming investigation in Iran. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board said it has appointed an expert to monitor the progress which is being led by Iran’s civil aviation organization. Aviation experts were skeptical about Iran’s initial claim that the plane was brought down by a mechanical problem. “Something unusual happened,” Garneau said. The plane carried 167 passengers and nine crew members from different nations. The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill was lowered to half-mast. The U.S. embassy in Ottawa also lowered its flag. Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed at least 63 Canadians died and as more information becomes available, including details on dual citizens, the number of deceased Canadians could change. It’s one of the worst losses of life for Canadians in an aviation disaster. In 1985 a bomb exploded and killed 329 people aboard an Air India flight. Air India Flight 182 from Montreal to New Delhi exploded over the Atlantic Ocean near Great Britain on June 23, 1985. Most of the victims were Canadian. The Tehran to Toronto route via Kyiv is an affordable route for Iranian Canadians and international students. There are no direct flights. Younes Zangiabadi, a board member of the Iranian Canadian Congress, said because of U.S. sanctions, there are many options for Iranian-Canadians to travel to Iran. Payman Paseyan, a member of the Iranian-Canadian community in Edmonton, Alberta, said about 27 people from Edmonton, a family of four that he knew, […]
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