Iran Air Flight 655 was an Iran Air flight from Bandar Abbas, Iran to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On 3 July 1988, at the end of the Iran–Iraq War, the aircraft serving the flight, an Airbus A300B2-203, was shot down by U.S. missiles fired by the United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes as it flew over the Strait of Hormuz. The aircraft, which had been flying in Iranian airspace over Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf on its usual flight path, was destroyed. All 290 onboard, including 66 children and 16 crew, perished. Read More.
Ranking seventh among the deadliest disasters in aviation history, the incident retains the highest death toll of any aviation incident in the Indian Ocean and the highest death toll of any incident involving an Airbus A300 anywhere in the world. Read More.
156 men, 53 women, 57 kids aging 2 to 12, and 8 babies aging 2 or less were on board when Iranian civilian Flight 655 departed Bandar Abbas Airport for Dubai.
The Vincennes had entered Iranian territorial waters after one of its helicopters drew warning fire from Iranian speedboats operating within Iranian territorial limits.
Bob
Aug 27. 2015
I remember when this happened. I was in the USAF. I remember being in the office and looking at a news magazine, be it Time or Newsweek, and seeing the pictures. Roughly a dozen of us in the office, all said the same thing at the same time. Why are they all naked?
We all came to the same conclusion immediately. It was a flight full of cadavers. There were dead bodies on that flight. Clothing does not get ripped off you when falling from 7,000 feet. I’ve seen pilots eject from fighter jets, Ive jumped from aircraft, NEVER has any clothing been ripped from a body. ABSURD!
There was an immediate cover up. Media was silenced too. I never heard one question about the naked bodies. For several weeks it bothered us in the office I worked in. We knew the reason. Iran attacked us, or tried, but out government didn’t want to respond. Kudos for not getting drawn into a war. But dammit at least TELL THE TRUTH.
Victoria
Sep 02. 2015
I’m sorry, I don’t agree with you, at all.
No apology? Really, that was/is a sorry ass excuse for shooting down an unarmed airplane holding passengers who were too young to even spell WAR! Where’s the Integrity
in our Country? I love my Country, and I wish we’d just mind our own business and help others, instead of trying to hold on to our Greedy Status!!
Anna
Dec 27. 2015
Crash victims have been found naked. When I was in my accident I literally burst out of my clothing.
The force of hitting the water will make them literally burst. I’m sure most of the people were skin blankets for the most part. Don’t be stupid it’s much more realistic that trigger happy Americans shot this passenger plane down. There’s film of it you can watch the dumb caption punch in the missile access code 27 times before he gets it right. Then they praise themselves and pat each other on the back while innocent people die.
rosemariejackowski
Jul 20. 2014
…and we always thought that the U$A was perfect. They never teach about things like this in school.
M. Ali
Mar 09. 2014
so so sad. that kid never grew up…sooo many losses. ;[
TheTruth
Oct 03. 2013
Remember when the US apologized? Me neither.
Alex
Sep 03. 2013
RIP
Bruce Bailey passengers atty
Jul 06. 2013
In 1990 I was the attorney for most of the passengers families for the 220 from around the world who were killed in the international fight of the
Airbus. The international flight was in the middle of an airway and under air route traffic control, reporting regularly and still in Iranian waters when it was shot down. One rocket hit the body of the airbus, the other a wing. The reason the photos show naked bodies is that the air in the fall from seven thousand feet tore off their clothes, before they died when they hit the water. The U.S. story was that the airbus was coming right at them and attacking the Cruiser, It was coming directly toward the Cruiser because it was also in the center of an international airway. The crew had no idea they were in an airway, untrained and on a new ship. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the families of the dead passengers could not sue the U.S. because Iran, owner of the airplane, and the U.S. were at war. Neither country knew they were at war until so informed by the U.S. Supreme court. The Cruiser, believe it or not did not have a radio to listen to air route traffic. Not one radio to tune civilian airway radio. I’m also a former Navy officer, and it was an bad day for the Navy. The U.S. should have said we are sorry and paid damages.The consequence is continuing hostility with Iran, today. Iranians believe that the airliner was shot down intentionally to threaten Iran to sign a piece treaty with Iraq, which the U.S. was defending at the time, supporting Saddam Huissen. The U.S. wanted to en the war, which Saddam was losing and Iranians today believe that it was a threat of what U.S would do to Iran if they did not sign the treaty That is why, today, Iran wants atomic weapons to protect itself from the U.S. No one in the U.S. knows this story. Not public knowledge. I’ve written a book–Bruce and Mohammad but no interest and not published. Bruce Bailey.
mohammad
Feb 07. 2014
iran never want atomic weapons and never look after it and never need that
your government have it and is only country use that for your stupid reason’s
Finnissy
Jul 05. 2013
I think it is time to shut the US down. Along with all their alphabet agencies, CIA, FBI, NSA, NORAD, NRO, Pentagon. Their exploitative multinationals ExxonMobil, GE etc… Their military industrial complex Lockheed, Northrop, McDonnell, SAIC. Their “think tanks” Rand, CFR, Trilateral, Hoover, Carnegie, Rockefeller. And put all these people on a spaceship aimed towards the core of the sun.
James Power
Jul 03. 2013
Bless them all, may they rest in peace.