Several people arrested due to Ukrainian plane in Iran

Several people have been arrested in connection with the downing of Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 by the Iranian Air Defense System near Parand city in Iran's Tehran province on Jan. 8, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said at a press conference.

Esmaili added that the interrogation of these individuals and the investigation are ongoing.

The spokesman added that the plane's black box was sent to France by a team of experts from Iran and Ukraine.

Esmaili said that the issue will be further studied when the black box is read.

The Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 crashed in Tehran province on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people on board.

Iranchr("39")s Armed Forces General Staff issued a statement on Jan. 11 saying that the aircraft was shot down by the Iranian Air Defense System.

Following the incident, airlines of several countries stopped flights to Iran.