METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY

This report has been prepared by the Association’s Fact-Finding Committee over the past 22 months. In the first 17 months, gathering of information and evidence was carried out. The last five months were utilized in organizing the available information and preparing this comprehensive report.

The objective of this report is to compile and analyze available evidence surrounding the downing of Flight PS752 and make supported conclusions around the hows and whys of the downing of Flight PS752.

In addition to Iran’s final report, we examined and used reports of the Special Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, the UN special rapporteur, and the Canadian Forensic team.

Technical books and other forms of literature were utilized and cited in the preparation of this report. Furthermore, the FlightRadar24 website was utilized in assessing the state of Iran’s airspace on January 8, 2020 and comparing these findings with the claims made by Iranian authorities regarding the Iranian airspace.

In the making of this report, the Association collaborated with individuals with expertise and work experience in the civilian and military aviation industry, as well as individuals with expertise in air defence units and systems. The expertise and backgrounds of these individuals include: military and defence analyst, air-safety expert, aerospace system expert, pilot with 50 years of experience in Iran’s civil aviation industry, as well as station chief within Tehran’s international airport.

The Association has also gained access to audio files of Iran’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javad Zarif, Iran’s head of the AAIB, Hassan Rezaeifar, as well as one other top Iranian official. For the protection of our sources, we do not mention the position and name of this top Iranian official. The contents of these audio recordings were utilized and cited as support and evidence for conclusions reached in the report.

Interviews were also conducted with individuals within Iran’s air defence network which provided the Association with valuable insight into the structure and condition of the Iranian air defence system. Testimonies of family members based on their last conversations with Flight PS752 passengers and with Iranian judiciary officials were also used.

Public interviews and speeches of Iranian officials were gathered, archived, closely analyzed, and utilized in this report. This includes statements made by military officials both prior to and following the downing of Flight PS752. Specifically, these claims were assessed in relation to the conditions of Iranian airspace on January 8, as well as assessing the motivations of the government of Iran for shooting down Flight PS752.

Prior to publication, this report has been reviewed and approved by various military and aviation experts. The legal components of this report have also been assessed and approved by renowned lawyers.