PERSIAN GULF — 1988 · Major Tragedy
The Iran Air 655 Disaster
On 3 July 1988, during the Iran-Iraq War, a U.S. Navy warship operating in the Persian Gulf shot down Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300 passenger plane. All 290 people aboard were killed. The United States stated that the plane had been mistaken for a fighter jet and targeted on that basis. The incident triggered prolonged debate in international law; the case was brought before the International Court of Justice, and in a 1996 settlement the United States agreed to pay compensation to the victims' families without admitting legal liability.
- Date
- 1988
- Place
- off the coast of Iran, Persian Gulf, IR
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 26.6667, 56.0000 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 1988The plane was shot down (July 3)
- 1989The case was brought before the International Court of Justice
- 1996The case was closed through a compensation settlement
Sources
- Official Report
- Contemporary Press Archive
Source grade C: no linked source yet; details rely on the general press archive. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.