U.S._government_accounts Iran_Air_Flight_655

a missile departs forward launcher of vincennes during 1987 exercise. forward launcher used in downing of iran air 655.

according u.s. government, vincennes mistakenly identified iranian airliner attacking military fighter. officers misidentified flight profile being flown airbus a300b2 being similar of f-14a tomcat during attack run; however, ship s own aegis combat system recorded flight plan of iranian airliner climbing (not descending in attack run) @ time of incident. commercial flight had originated @ bandar abbas, served dual roles base iranian f-14 operations , hub commercial, civilian flights. according same reports, vincennes tried unsuccessfully contact approaching aircraft, 7 times on military emergency frequency , 3 times on civilian emergency frequency, never on air traffic control frequencies. civilian aircraft not equipped pick military frequencies , messages on civilian emergency channel have been directed @ aircraft. more confusion arose hailed speed ground speed, while pilot s instruments displayed airspeed, 50-knot (93 km/h) difference.

at 10:24 am, civilian jet 11 nautical miles (20 km) away, vincennes fired 2 sm-2mr surface-to-air missiles, 1 of hit airliner. after attack, vincennes crew realized plane had been civilian airliner.

this version finalized in report admiral william fogarty, entitled formal investigation circumstances surrounding downing of iran air flight 655 on 3 july 1988 (the fogarty report ) parts of report have been released (part in 1988 , part ii in 1993). fogarty report stated, data uss vincennes tapes, information uss sides , reliable intelligence information, corroborate fact [iran air flight 655] on normal commercial air flight plan profile, in assigned airway, squawking mode iii 6760, on continuous ascent in altitude take-off @ bandar abbas shoot-down .

when questioned in 2000 bbc documentary, u.s. government stated in written answer believed incident may have been caused simultaneous psychological condition amongst 18 bridge crew of vincennes called scenario fulfillment , said occur when persons under pressure. in such situation, men carry out training scenario, believing reality while ignoring sensory information contradicts scenario. in case of incident, scenario attack lone military aircraft.