Families of victims of Flight PS752 gather one year after tragedy

Justin Trudeau declares January 8 a national day of remembrance for those lost in air disasters

Family members of the 176 people killed on board Ukraine Flight PS752 gathered in central Toronto, Canada, to honour and remember their loved ones.

PS752 took off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport at 6.12am local time on January 8, 2020. Minutes later it crashed.

After initially denying any involvement, Iran admitted it had accidentally shot down the plane. The Iranian regime blamed the tragedy on human error and a misaligned surface-to-air missile.

Family members have spent the past year calling for more transparency from the regime which has been investigating the incident. The investigation has been plagued by delays, incomplete accounts and blame-shifting with a full report on the circumstances of the tragedy still to be published.

Ukrainian officials confirmed this week that they had received a preliminary report on December 31 and had 60 days to assess its findings before publication.

Fifty-five Canadians and 30 permanent residents were on board the flight. To mark one year since the tragedy, family members gathered virtually to celebrate the lives lost.

In Toronto 176 family members of the victims marched from the University of Toronto to Nathan Phillips Square, each holding photos of their loved ones.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the group by video. “We will not rest until we get all the answers that you deserve,” he said.

Earlier in the day he declared January 8 to be a national day of remembrance for victims of air disasters.

“Behind every one of these tragic events and each loss of life there is a mourning spouse, parent, sibling, child or friend," he wrote in a statement.

"Together we offer our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones as a result of all air disasters, and we will continue to support them in their greatest moments of need and sadness.

"Today and every day we will always remember these tragedies and those who were lost.”

Vigils were also held in Edmonton, Canada, and Frankfurt, Germany.