Coordinates: 26°42′11″N 56°03′43″E / 26.70306°N 56.06194°E / 26.70306; 56.06194

Iran Air Flight 655

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File:Iran Air Flight 655.jpg
Iran Air Flight 655
Iran Air Flight 655
File:Iran Air Flight 655.jpg
A similar Iran Air Airbus A300B2-203
CoordinatesLua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Date3 July 1988
Attack type
Airliner shootdown
Deaths290

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD