LOCATION: National
ISSUE/SOURCE: The Government of Canada’s response to the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752
DATE: February 8, 2022
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- The Government of Canada continues to seek accountability, transparency and justice from Iran, in collaboration with the other affected States of the Coordination Group.
- As part of its broad strategy in response to the downing of Flight PS752, Canada continues its efforts to:
- prevent future downings of civilian aircraft over or near conflict zones through the Safer Skies Initiative; and,
- address gaps in the international accident investigation regime exposed by Iran’s safety investigation.
- Canada will be hosting the second Safer Skies Forum virtually on March 29-30, 2022. The Forum is an annual international event focused on conflict zone risk management.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- The Government of Canada is proposing a broad strategy in response to the downing of PS752, which seeks to obtain transparency, accountability and justice from Iran, and to prevent future civilian aircraft downing over or near conflict zones. To further these priorities, Canada is pursuing work at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to advance: Canada’s Safer Skies Initiative; and, reforms to ICAO’s international accident investigation regime (i.e., Annex 13).
- The Safer Skies Initiative was established to mitigate risks to civil aviation operations in or near conflict zones. Progress has been achieved at the international level to advance the Initiative, including the creation of the Safer Skies Consultative Committee, the Safer Skies Commitment Statement, and Transport Canada’s hosting of the first global Safer Skies Forum, focused exclusively on the risks conflict zones pose to civil aviation operations. Transport Canada is currently planning the second Safer Skies Forum, which will take place virtually on March 29-30, 2022.
- Canada believes that ICAO’s standards and practices (Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention) should be improved to enhance the transparency and credibility of, and confidence in, aircraft accident and incident investigations, including to better address conflict of interest situations. In October 2021, Canada secured the support of 55 member states on a proposal to prioritize this work within ICAO, and to consider key questions, such as the potential for member states to delegate investigation responsibilities. Canada remains committed to working with its partners to continue to address the issues and gaps in ICAO’s protocols for aircraft accident investigations. Transport Canada recently established a dedicated unit to help prioritize this work and secure broader international support.
- Global Affairs Canada is creating a scholarship program in the memory of the victims of Flight PS752. This responds to the Prime Minister’s commitment made last year on the first anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752.