Latest news: Iran launches missile attacks on US bases Engine failure caused crash, Ukraine’s embassy says ‘Impossible that anyone survived’, says charity chief ​Iran plane crash, in pictures Three British citizens were among 176 passengers and crew killed after a plane crashed in Iran, leaving no survivors. Ukraine’s foreign ministry confirmed that everyone aboard the Boeing 737 was killed after it came down shortly after it departed from Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital of Tehran.  There were three British people on board, as well as citizens from six other countries, according to the Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said his government was working to understand the causes of the crash. He is cutting short a trip to Oman and returning to Kyiv. “My sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of all passengers and crew,” he said in a statement. Initially, Ukraine’s embassy in Iran said on Wednesday morning that engine failure caused the plane to crash and denied that it was terror-related or that a rocket had hit the aircraft. But it later withdrew this statement, saying that anything was possible, and Mr Zelensky instructed Ukraine’s prosecutors to open criminal proceedings over the crash. Flight data from the airport showed a Ukrainian 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines took off on Wednesday morning, then stopped sending data about eight minutes later, according to tracking website FlightRadar24.  Plane crash in pictures It is not clear whether the incident is related toIran’s missile attacks on US bases in Iraq on Wednesday morning. The Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet that crashed this morning was less than four years old. 10:04AM Foreign Office ‘deeply saddened’ by loss of life in Iran plane crash The Foreign Office has issued a statement on the Iran plane crash. BREAKING | Foreign Office “deeply saddened” by Iran plane crash and “urgently seeking confirmation about how many British nationals were on board”. Full statement here: pic.twitter.com/Q4Curn1yGg— Gareth Davies (@GD10) January 8, 2020 10:01AM Chinese airline becomes latest to avoid Iran China Southern – a Chinese airline – has cancelled an Urumqi to Tehran flight which was scheduled to depart on Wednesday.  9:35AM Map of where the plane came down Here is a look at where the plane came down in relation to the the airport and its scheduled destination – Kyiv. AFP map and details of the path of Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS-752 which crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran @AFPgraphicspic.twitter.com/D72x9iVhpk— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 8, 2020 It also tracks the plane’s altitude up to the moment it disappeared from the radar.   9:20AM Ukraine withdraws statement ruling out terror or rocket attack Having initially said the plane crash was due to engine failure and not foul play, there is now a new statement on the Ukrainian embassy website. It reads: “A commission is working to clarify the causes of the plane crash.  Any statements regarding the causes of the accident prior to the findings of the commission are not official.” The earlier line ruling out terrorism or a rocket attack as possible causes have been removed. 9:17AM Russia warns against ‘rushed theories’ on crash Russia has offered its condolences and warned against “rushed theories” about the cause of the crash, Theo Merz reports.  Senator Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote on Facebook: “A terrible crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Tehran. It looks like no one survived. Was it a technical malfunction? A mistake of the crew? A terror attack? Only an investigation will show and one must refrain from any rushed theories.” He said the Russian embassy was working to clarify if there were any of its citizens on board. “I would like to offer sincere condolences to all the families and loved ones of the deceased, whatever their nationality. We share the Ukrainian people’s grief.” MP Leonid Slutskiy said on his Telegram messaging channel: “The reasons of the crash are yet to be assessed. The tragedy must not be used for political purposes – sinking to the level of groundless accusations against Tehran or anti-Iranian rhetoric.” 9:00AM Ukrainian President instructs prosecutors to open criminal proceedings Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said his government was working to understand the causes of the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Credit: Sergei Chuzavkov/AFP He has cut short a trip to Oman and returning to Kyiv and instructed Ukraine’s prosecutors to open criminal proceedings over the crash. Mr Zelenskyy, in a statement on the president’s website, said he had ordered the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to open criminal proceedings over the UIA plane crash in Tehran. He said: “An investigation commission should be set up of representatives of the civil and aviation agencies responsible for civil aviation. We have to work out all the possible versions. “Regardless of the conclusions regarding the causes of the Iranian catastrophe, the airworthiness of the entire civilian fleet will be tested. “I keep all measures on personal control. I very much ask everyone to refrain from speculation and putting forward untested versions of the disaster before the official announcements.” 8:40AM Russia suspends flights over Iran and Iraq As the tension in the Middle East heightens, Moscow has called off any flights that use the airspace over Iran and Iraq.  A telegram from the Russia’s  Federal Air Transport Agency said: “In connection with the information on the existing risks to the security of international flights of civil aircraft before the subsequent notification, the Federal Air Transport Agency recommends not using the airspace over the territories of Iran, Iraq, the Persian and Oman gulfs for flights of civil aircraft of the Russian Federation, including transit flights.” Air France has also suspended flights over the region. 8:38AM ‘Nothing wrong with plane’, says Ukrainian airline Ukrainian International Airlines(UIA) has appeared to bite back at claims its plane came down because of engine failure.  The airline said there was “nothing wrong” with its plane.  A Boeing 737-3E7 from Ukraine International Airlines lands in 2017 Credit: Jack Guez/AFP It is understood the plane that crashed just outside the Iranian capital last passed a planned technical service just two days ago on Jan 6. President of UIA Yevgeny Dykhne told a press briefing: “The aircraft was in good condition… We guarantee the serviceability of our aircraft and the high qualification of our crews” 8:23AM Kyiv confirms British citizens were on board flight The Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko has revealed the nationalities of those on board.  He said Kyiv is aware of the “following information on the countries of origin of those killed in the crash”. Наразі нам відома наступна інформація щодо країн походження загиблих в катастрофі PS752: Іран – 82; Канада – 63; Україна – 2 + 9(екіпаж); Швеція – 10; Афганістан – 4; ФРН – 3; Велика Британія – 3. Висловлюємо наші співчуття. Українська влада продовжує розслідування.— Vadym Prystaiko (@VPrystaiko) January 8, 2020 Iran – 82 Canada – 63 Ukraine – 2 + 9 (crew) Sweden – 10 Afghanistan – 4 Germany – 3 United Kingdom – 3 8:13AM Flights to Tehran ‘suspended indefinitely’ by Ukrainian airline Ukraine International Airlines has suspended flights to Tehran indefinitely, according to Reuters.  7:59AM Boeing ‘aware of media reports’ Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the company was aware of media reports of a plane crash in Iran and was gathering more information. 7:48AM Three British citizens on board, says local media A local media outlet in the Ukraine claims there were British citizens on board.  Obozrevatel, a popular news website in the country, said there were also 71 Canadians on board, quoting sources.  Ukrainian citizens – 15 Iranian citizens – 71 Canadian citizens – 73 German citizens – 4 UK citizens – 3 Swedish citizens – 8 Afghan citizens – 6 The Foreign Office was not immediately available for comment and the figures from Obozrevatel have not been confirmed.  But the Ukraine Security Council said there were 11 Ukrainians on board, including nine crew, according to Reuters.  7:41AM Iran plane crash, in pictures Debris is seen from the plane crash on the outskirts of Tehran Credit: Mohammad Nasiri/AP An aerial view of the crash site Credit: Rohhollah Vadati/AFP A side panel from the aircraft in a ditch Credit: AFP 7:31AM Special flights on standby to take bodies back to Ukraine The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has special flights are on standby to take bodies back to Kyiv. The planes will need permission from Iran.  7:28AM What we know so far Boeing 737 crashed eight minutes after taking off All 176 aboard killed, 167 passengers and nine crew Plane appeared to be on fire before it hit the ground Engine failure to blame, says Ukraine 7:27AM Video: ‘Plane falls from the sky’ Ali Hashem, a BBC correspondent, tweeted a video which he claimed showed the plane falling through the air while aflame before crashing into the ground and exploding. Breaking First footage of the Ukrainian airplane while on fire falling near Tehranpic.twitter.com/kGxnBb7f1q— Ali Hashem علي هاشم (@alihashem_tv) January 8, 2020 6:54AM What type of plane was it? The plane that came down this morning was a Boeing 737-800. This is similar to but not the same as the 737 Max 8 aircraft, which has been grounded since two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that have brought huge scrutiny to Boeing. The 737-800 uses a different software system to that of the Max 8. The Ukraine International Airlines jet that crashed this morning was believed to be less than four years old. Boeing’s 737 Max 8 is grounded following fatal crashes Credit: Lindsey Wasson/Reuters The airline has not yet made a statement. 6:27AM Rescuers sift through wreckage Iranian officials and emergency crews are at the crash site in Tehran, investigating the cause of the crash earlier this morning.  The plane crashed about eight minutes after taking off Credit: Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA   6:18AM ‘Impossible that anyone survived’ The head of Iran’s Red Crescent has said they do not expect survivors at the crash site. “Obviously it is impossible that passengers” on flight PS-752 are alive, he told Iranian state news. 6:06AM ‘176 people’ on board Iranian state TV news are claiming that the flight had 176 people on board – 167 passengers and nine crew. 5:50AM All passengers dead – Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has confirmed that all 170 passengers aboard the Boeing 737 in Tehran have been killed. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and said his government was working to understand the causes of the crash.