Canada’s response to Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 tragedy

Update on the situation

There are 57 Canadian citizens and 29 permanent residents confirmed among the 176 people who were killed in the crash.

The Government of Canada has sent a team to Tehran to provide consular support to families on the ground, and to provide expertise and support to ongoing investigative efforts on site. Canada will continue to be in contact with all relevant authorities as the situation remains extremely difficult and fluid.

An International Coordination and Response Group to support families of victims of PS752 has been formed by Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. The Group aims to ensure a full and transparent investigation into the causes of the fatal crash so that families and loved ones can get the answers they deserve.

Assistance for families of victims

Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre is reaching out to the families of the crash victims to provide support. Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information about Canadian citizens who were on board flight PS752 should contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 613-996-8885 or 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free), or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca. In Canada, consular officials have been deployed to Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto to act as a personal point of support for family members of Canadian victims. Regardless of where in Canada you are calling from, the Emergency Watch and Response Centre will put you in touch with a consular official who will provide you personalised service based on your specific needs, in the city where you are located.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set up dedicated phone lines and a dedicated email address to provide assistance to family members of the victims who need to travel to Iran, who need travel documents on an urgent basis or who need to remain in Canada temporarily. As of January 11, the number to call in Canada or the U.S. is 1-833-864-2831 and from anywhere else in the world, 1-438-843-2029. Individuals can also email operationPS752@cic.gc.ca.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has set up a family assistance walk-in centre at the Westin Toronto Airport. The Centre is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. UIA is also making arrangements for the provision of bereavement counselling to any family members of victims; the bereavement counselling can be arranged through the call centre in Canada, toll free: 1-866-566-3708. Ukraine International Airlines can be contacted directly at +38 044 581 50 19.

Health Canada has put in place a free and confidential 24/7 Crisis and Counselling Support Line for the many families experiencing grief and loss as a result of this tragedy. By calling, family members in Canada can request support from a mental health professional, or receive referrals to resources in their community. This Support Line is also available to close friends of victims as well as any impacted community organizations based in Canada. There is no cost to callers for these support services. The Counselling Support Line can be reached 24/7 at 1-877-891-5305.

Financial assistance

The Government of Canada will give families of the victims who are Canadian citizens and permanent residents $25,000 per victim to assist with their immediate needs. Consular officials are contacting affected families directly to explain the process.

Canada is also working with our international partners, including through the International Coordination and Response Group, to ensure that families are compensated according to the liability provisions established under international law.

How you can help

Canada as a nation is grieving, and it is clear that Canadians want to show their support for the victims’ families. On January 22, 2020, the Government of Canada announced it will match donations to the Canada Strong campaign, up to $1.5 million dollars, until February 21, 2020.

This fund was developed to support families of the victims as they navigate through the long term impacts of these tragic losses.

Over the coming days and weeks, Public Safety Canada will continue to work with the Canada Strong Campaign and its partners to refine details of this fund matching program, and to determine how these funds can best support families.

Investigations

Iran has said that the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was brought down by a surface-to-air missile. As the incident occurred in Iran, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the lead on the transportation safety investigation. The National Bureau of Air Accidents Investigation of Ukraine is also participating in this investigation.

Canada is offering technical assistance and expertise to Ukraine officials in the areas of aircraft design, maintenance and flight operations to assist.

Canada is working with allies to ensure thorough and credible investigations to uncover the causes of this terrible tragedy and to bring closure, transparency, accountability and justice to Canadians.

Transportation safety investigation

Since learning of the accident, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has been in direct contact with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Given the high number of Canadian fatalities, the TSB has expert status in this investigation. On Iran’s invitation, it has attended the accident site and viewed the wreckage. The TSB's mandate is to find what factors caused or contributed to an accident. It is not the function of the TSB to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

For more information on the TSB and Canada’s role in the safety investigation, see Air transportation safety investigation A20F0002.

Criminal investigation

Canada and the other members of the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 have called for accountability for those responsible for the tragedy through an independent criminal investigation followed by transparent and impartial judicial proceedings which conform to international standards of due process and human rights.

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine has invited Canada and other affected nations to participate in a joint criminal investigation. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Federal Policing representatives are currently engaged with Ukrainian counterparts to determine how best to support any criminal investigation going forward.

Flight restrictions

The Government of Canada is monitoring the situation closely in the Middle East, and is in close contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and other international partners.

Some airlines have cancelled flights to Iran. Contact your airline or transportation carrier to see if the situation will disrupt your travel plans. Air Canada, the only Canadian airline flying in the region, has altered its routes to ensure the security of its flights into and over the Middle East.

For more information and updates on the security situation in Iran, consult Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories.

Related links

• Air transportation safety investigation A20F0002
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
• Transport Canada
• Transportation Safety Board of Canada
• Embassy of Canada to Turkey in Ankara
• Embassy of Canada to Ukraine
• Travel Advice and Advisories for Iran
• Travel Advice and Advisories for Ukraine
• Canada Strong Campaign collecting funds for the victims of Flight PS752

Latest news

Readout: Call of International Coordination and Response Group for victims of #PS752https://t.co/Yk1amkeYXp

— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) January 20, 2020

Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided an update on the tragedy involving flight PS752 in Iran, and announced the government’s next steps to support the families of victims. Read his remarks: https://t.co/UL1DmMqb9a

— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) January 17, 2020

Minister Champagne joined his counterparts from #Ukraine, #Sweden, #UnitedKingdom and #Afghanistan to honour the memory of the victims of Flight #PS752 tragedy. pic.twitter.com/lFAWNDzYV8

— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) January 17, 2020