The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled that Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is obligated to provide full compensation to the families who lost loved ones in the tragic downing of UIA Flight 752 in Iran in January 2020. The court’s decision, issued on Tuesday, holds UIA liable for damages to the families of 21 passengers who perished in the incident, which occurred when the flight was mistakenly shot down by Iranian military forces.
Justice Jasmine Akbarali determined that UIA exhibited negligence in ensuring the safety of its passengers by failing to conduct a thorough assessment of the security situation in the region and the risks associated with operating the flight out of Tehran on the day of the tragedy. The ruling highlighted that Iran had launched ballistic missile attacks on a US air base in Iraq just hours before the UIA flight departed, in response to the assassination of one of its top generals a few days prior.
The court emphasized that UIA should have been aware of Tehran’s anticipation of potential US retaliation. Additionally, Iran has initiated a trial to hold those responsible for the accidental downing of the Ukrainian flight accountable, and has offered compensation of $150,000 per passenger to numerous families impacted by the tragic event.
