IRAN: 737 Passenger Plane Crash Killing All On Board

UPDATE (9:50 a.m. ET): The plane was a Boeing 737-800 and not the troubled 737-Max, which was grounded last year after two fatal crashes which killed 346 people. (USA Today)

At least 160 people were killed when a Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran, Iranian news agencies reported Wednesday.

There are conflicting reports about the number of passengers on board the Ukraine International Airlines plane. An official from Ukraine’s foreign ministry told Reuters there were at least 160 people on board, while Iran’s Fars News Agency put the count at 180.

Flight-tracking site FlightRadar24 said the plane, bound for the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, stopped transmitting data approximately two minutes after take-off.

Though the official cause of the crash was not initially known, Fars reported the plane crashed due to technical problems. Reports say rescue efforts had to be halted because the fire at the crash site was too intense. (CNBC)

Hot Takes:

• This appears to be unrelated to the conflict developing between the U.S. and Iran.
• Boeing said it was aware of the crash and is “gathering more information.”
• This plane was a 737-800, a model created before the troubled 737 Max that has been grounded worldwide due to two fatal crashes.