Forensic's Factual Analysis of the Downing of Flight PS752

Detailed Timeline for January 8, 2020 00:01 TT (approximately) The SAM unit reportedly arrives at its location west of Tehran around midnight on January 8, 2020, according to statements by IRGC Brigadier General Hajizadeh on January 11, 2020.18 02:00 TT (approximately) Iran launches ballistic missiles towards two Iraqi bases hosting US troops.19 03:40 TT The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues a NOTAM prohibiting US carriers from operating in the Tehran FIR. The NOTAM prohibits US carriers from operating due to “heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East, which present an inadvertent risk to US Civil Aviation Operations due to the potential for miscalculation or misidentification.”20 This NOTAM affects US air carriers only, and UIA was not on the FAA distribution list.

04:00 TT (approximately) The Iranian military takes over responsibility for authorizing startup approval for civilian flight departures from IKA.21 05:00 TT Qatar Airways Flight QR491 departs IKA. 05:07 TT Turkish Airlines Flight TK873 departs IKA. 05:17 TT Atlas Global Flight KK1185 departs IKA. 05:39 TT Qatar Airways Flight QR8408 departs IKA. 05:51 TT Flight PS752 requests authority from IKA Air Traffic Control (ATC) to start aircraft engines.22 05:52 TT The ATC requests military clearance for Flight PS752 via the Tehran Air Coordination Center.23 05:54 TT The clearance request is forwarded to the Civil-Military Operational Coordination Center (CMOCC).24 05:55 TT Flight PS752 is cleared for start-up and pushback.25 05:56:18 TT The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) begins recording at the time of engine start-up.26 06:10:20 TT Flight PS752 receives take-off clearance from IKA ATC.27 06:12 TT Flight PS752 departs IKA after being cleared for take-off by both civilian and military authorities 21