Today in History

July 3, 1988

The Downing of Iran Air Flight 655

On July 3, 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 was flying to Dubai. Aboard were 290 passengers, including 66 children. As it passed over the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Navy's USS Vincennes mistakenly identified the Iranian Airbus A300 as a F-14 Tomcat fighter in an attack attitude. The order was given to shoot the airliner down, resulting in the death of all aboard.

The Iranian government maintained that the downing of the aircraft was an intentional act. The United States had been assisting Iraq in its war against Iran and had in recent years endured a prolonged hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. The United States denied any intent to harm civilians and in 1966 paid $61.8 million in compensation with no admission of guilt.

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