Author: Associated Press

Published: 10:55 PM EST January 10, 2020

Updated: 10:55 PM EST January 10, 2020

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV, citing a military statement, says the country “unintentionally” shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 aboard. 

The statement came Saturday morning. It blames “human error” for the shootdown. 

The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukrainian International Airlines, went down on the outskirts of Tehran during takeoff just hours after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. forces. 

Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the U.S. and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believe Iran shot down the aircraft. 

RELATED: US blames Iran for Ukrainian jetliner downing, pledges probe

FILE – In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 file photo debris at the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)