When Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed two minutes after takeoff in Tehran on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people on board, both Ukrainian and foreign officials immediately responded to the tragedy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky interrupted his official visit to Oman and headed back to Kyiv as soon as he found out about the deadly catastrophe. Zelensky wrote on Facebook: “Terrible news from the Middle East. My sincere condolences to the families and friends of all the passengers and crew members.”
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, in turn, announced that the government would create a team of experts to travel to Iran and investigate the causes of the Ukrainian Boeing 737’s crash.
“The work on discovering the causes of this tragedy has already been organized,” he said.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a hotline in order to provide information about the disaster. Local doctors went to Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to provide relatives and other people who might be affected by the accident with psychological support.
According to Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy, Ukraine will cancel all flights that pass through Iranian airspace starting on Jan. 9.
The State Aviation Administration of Ukraine will conduct additional inspections of Ukraine International Airlines and the safety conditions of the company’s flights. Other airlines will also be checked.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have already started an investigation. According to Krykliy, the Ukrainian ambassador to Iran is closely working with Iranian aviation officials to repatriate the bodies of 11 Ukrainians, two passengers and nine crew members, who were on the flight.
The vast majority of passengers were citizens of Iran (82) and Canada (63). However, Swedish, Afghan, German, and British citizens were also on board.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump didn’t mention the crash in his televised address to America on Jan. 8, but U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement: “The U.S. Department of State extends our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 176 passengers and crew killed in the tragic crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS 752. The United States will continue to follow this incident closely and stands prepared to offer Ukraine all possible assistance. The United States calls for complete cooperation with any investigation into the cause of the crash.”
Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne tweeted that he is staying in touch with the Ukrainian government and will continue to keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves.
Tragic news regarding Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims, including many Canadians. I have been in touch with the government of Ukraine. We will continue to keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves. #PS752
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) January 8, 2020
“With great sadness, I received the news of the plane crash in Iran. My condolences to the relatives,” Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote on Twitter.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko responded and expressed his condolences to the families of the 10 Swedish passengers.
“Our thoughts today are also with Swedish families who lost their relatives this terrible morning,” Prystaiko wrote on Twitter.
Please accept my thanks for your call and heartfelt condolences! Our thoughts today are also with Swedish families who lost their relatives this terrible morning #PS752 https://t.co/Ymlf5kkmWq
— Vadym Prystaiko (@VPrystaiko) January 8, 2020
Christopher Pincher, a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the minister of state for Europe and the Americas since July, said that he is staying in touch with both Iranian and Ukrainian authorities to get urgent information about the three British citizens killed in the crash.
My deepest sympathies are with the friends and families of all those who have lost their lives in the tragic UIA plane crash this morning near Tehran. We are in contact with the Iranian & Ukrainian authorities to seek urgent clarification on reports of British nationals on board.
— Christopher Pincher (@ChrisPincher) January 8, 2020
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Dmytro Razumkov wrote on Facebook that the main task of the Ukrainian government is to determine the cause of the Boeing crash as soon as possible and to provide the necessary assistance to the families of the passengers.
Meanwhile, people all over the world continue to offer their condolences to the victims’ loved ones.
Among them was Rebecca Harms, a former member of the European Parliament who has repeatedly visited Ukraine.
Terrible. My thoughts are with all their families and friends. #PS752 https://t.co/90XnSxew8p
— Rebecca Harms (@RebHarms) January 8, 2020
Pope Francis also sent a message of condolences to all those who lost loved ones following the plane crash, Vatican News reported.
