Iran missile strike against Ukraine airliner | 08 January 2020
GENEVA (7 January 2021) – On the occasion of the first-year anniversary of the strike against Ukraine International
Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752, which killed all 176 persons on board, a UN human rights expert has called for urgent
measures to protect civilian aircraft flying in conflict zones or areas of high military tensions.
“The downing of Flight PS752 sadly highlights the insufficiencies of the international conventions related to air
safety, both in preventing military actions against civilian planes, and in ensuring proper investigations should they
occur,” said Agnès Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
On 8 January 2020, 176 individuals lost their lives when their Ukraine International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kiev
was struck by two Iranian missiles. The targeting of the Flight PS752 occurred in the context of heightened tensions
between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States.
“This preventable tragedy requires urgent action from all stakeholders including States and airlines,” she said in a statement presenting a range of recommendations to strengthen the protection of the right to life of passengers on board civilian
airlines.
Callamard said that in situations of military tensions, whether or not they are recognised as armed conflicts, the most
effective means to prevent attacks on civil aviation is closing the airspace. All other options are secondary and may
subject civil aircraft to risk. Yet, too often, States fail to do so for commercial or political reasons, she said.
“The international community must establish clear, explicit and unambiguous standards on when States should close
airspace under their jurisdiction,” Callamard said. “If States are not acting responsibly to close the airspace under
their jurisdiction, or restrict flights, then it is incumbent upon other States and airlines to take immediate action to
restrict carriers from flying over or near a conflict zone.”
The expert also called on airlines to make their flight paths available to the public and to strengthen their capacity
for risk assessment, including by following the highest standards and checking all information sources when planning
flights routes.
“The many failings of the existing international system and institutions demonstrates the urgent need for a completely
independent body (from both States and airlines) to monitor air safety in relation to conflicts, and to compile and
disseminate information about risks to civil aviation related to flying over conflict zones,” Callamard said. “Such
information should be made available to the public at large.
“Passengers and flight crew cannot be left at the mercy of States and airlines who put revenue and other motives ahead
of safety. In a world of heightened military and political tensions, with a resurgence of conflicts and access to a
multiplication of military grade weapons, the current international system responsible for civilian air safety is not
fit for purpose. We must act now to prevent future incidents and save lives.”
The Special Rapporteur has written to the Iranian Government regarding the shooting down of Ukraine International
Airlines Flight PS752.