Iran Air Flight 655

File:Iran Air Flight 655.jpg

Iran Air Flight 655

1988 airliner shootdown by the United States Navy

Iran Air Flight 655 was a scheduled Iran Air passenger flight from Bandar Abbas International Airport in Iran to Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. On 3 July 1988, the aircraft, an Airbus A300, was shot down by the United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes over the Persian Gulf, resulting in the deaths of all 290 passengers and crew on board.

Incident

On the morning of 3 July 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 took off from Bandar Abbas International Airport at 10:17 AM local time, bound for Dubai International Airport. The aircraft was an Airbus A300B2-203, registered as EP-IBU. The flight was operating in Iranian airspace over the Persian Gulf.

At the same time, the USS Vincennes, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, was engaged in a skirmish with Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew of the Vincennes mistakenly identified the civilian airliner as an attacking F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. Despite attempts to contact the aircraft, the Vincennes launched two SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles at the airliner.

Aftermath

The destruction of Iran Air Flight 655 resulted in the deaths of all 290 passengers and crew, including 66 children. The incident caused international outrage and significantly strained relations between the United States and Iran. The United States government expressed regret over the loss of life but maintained that the crew of the Vincennes had acted in self-defense.

In 1996, the United States agreed to pay $61.8 million in compensation to the families of the Iranian victims, but it did not admit legal liability.

Memorials

Several memorials have been established to honor the victims of Iran Air Flight 655. In Iran, a memorial was erected in the city of Bandar Abbas. Additionally, a memorial service is held annually on 3 July to commemorate the tragedy.

See also

• List of airliner shootdown incidents
• USS Vincennes (CG-49)
• Persian Gulf
• Iran Air

External links

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