Iran Hands Over Ukrainian Plane’s Black Boxes to Paris for Analysis

TEHRAN — After more than six months, Iran handed over to Paris the flight recorders of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was mistakenly shot down by Iranian forces for analysis.

Analysis of the flight recorders is due to begin on Monday, Iranian vice foreign minister Mohsen Baharvand said on Saturday, according to news agency Ilna.

The jet was en route to Kiev when it was mistakenly shot down by Iranian forces on Jan. 8, shortly after having taken off from Tehran. All 176 people on board were killed.

France’s air accident investigation body BEA confirmed in June that Iran had requested its technical assistance to repair the boxes and download their data.

Last week, the Iranian aviation authority wrote in its final report that the downing of the flight was due to a “human error.”

It said there was a communication error at the responsible military department due to the incorrect alignment of the radar system, which ultimately led to the aircraft being fired on accidentally.

Iran has said it is willing to pay compensation to people from abroad who lost relatives in the accident.

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