On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300 passenger aircraft, with a missile. All 290 passengers and crew, including 66 children, were killed. The plane was in Iranian airspace on its regular commercial route.
Historical Context
Flight 655 was climbing at 4,000 meters altitude on its route from Bandar Abbas to Dubai. The Vincennes claimed to have identified the aircraft as an F-14 fighter jet. Investigations showed the plane was in a commercial corridor with a civilian transponder. The US never officially apologized and paid Iran $131 million in compensation in 1996. Captain William Rogers later received a military decoration.
Fun Facts
President George H.W. Bush said: "I will never apologize for the United States, I don't care what the facts are." The ICAO found the US action to be unlawful. This tragedy was one of the factors leading Iran to accept UN Resolution 598.
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