Satellite images and heat sensors support western claims that a Ukrainian airlines was shot down by an Iranian missile, an expert in the field said on Friday (January 10). "I'm 100 percent certain that this was done by an anti-aircraft capability and the SA-15 (missile system) has and Tehran was positioned to do that," Riki Ellison, Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance said.
Overhead sensors, both manned, unmanned, and in space, detect heat activity making it possible for the U.S. to know within a "few seconds" where the missiles were headed, Ellison said.
Shrapnel at the site of the crash and punctures to the body of the plane are consistent with a damage caused by anti-aircraft capabilities, according to Ellison.
U.S. and Canadian officials concluded earlier on Friday that anti-aircraft missiles likely targeted the plane by mistake.
Recent tit-for-tat military strikes between Tehran and Washington and poor training may also played a factor.
"My belief is that it could have been an error by the crew that was operating this. They were obviously ready to go, trigger happy....They may be equipped very well, but they're not trained to identify friendly from enemy," Ellison said.
Iran, which denies the Boeing 737-800 was downed by a missile, is expected to announce on Saturday (January 11) what caused the crash.
The Ukraine International Airlines flight to Kiev from Tehran crashed on Wednesday (January 8), killing all 176 people onboard.
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