Blood MoneyBlood Money

Iran Air 655Iran Air 655

Background:Background:

1980s Iran/Iraq war1980s Iran/Iraq war USS VincennesUSS Vincennes assigned to assigned to

Persian GulfPersian Gulf July 3, 1988July 3, 1988 USS VincennesUSS Vincennes in intense sea in intense sea

battle with Iran gunboats around battle with Iran gunboats around the Strait of Hormuzthe Strait of Hormuz

Anything that approaches will be Anything that approaches will be assessed as a threat on this assessed as a threat on this particular dayparticular day

Above an Iranian P3 Orion was doing Above an Iranian P3 Orion was doing surveillance – this put Captain surveillance – this put Captain William Rogers and the crew on edgeWilliam Rogers and the crew on edge

The P3 could call an Iranian air strikeThe P3 could call an Iranian air strike Also important – F14’s had recently Also important – F14’s had recently

been delivered to nearby Bandar been delivered to nearby Bandar Abbas airportAbbas airport

Meanwhile…Meanwhile…

Iran Air Flight 655 leaves from Iran Air Flight 655 leaves from Bandar Abbas airport 27 minutes lateBandar Abbas airport 27 minutes late

It was headed on a short flight to It was headed on a short flight to DubaiDubai

On the On the VincennesVincennes

Controller recognizes a new blip on Controller recognizes a new blip on the radarthe radar

He sends out the IFF signal detectionHe sends out the IFF signal detection Codes 1,2 & 4 represent MilitaryCodes 1,2 & 4 represent Military Flight 655 squawked back code 3Flight 655 squawked back code 3 All planes have code 3, it could All planes have code 3, it could

represent friend or foerepresent friend or foe

In control room, the In control room, the radar that was radar that was utilized could not utilized could not determine size or determine size or type of aircrafttype of aircraft

The Vincennes sent The Vincennes sent out radio out radio communication communication warning Flight 655 of warning Flight 655 of impending approach impending approach on the shipon the ship

VincennesVincennes was only was only utilizing military utilizing military frequencies and so frequencies and so Flight 655 never Flight 655 never respondedresponded

Under assumption Under assumption of impending of impending danger, Capt. danger, Capt. Rogers ordered fire Rogers ordered fire of missilesof missiles

Flight path of Flight 655Flight path of Flight 655

Repercussions…Repercussions…

Iranian government believes shoot down Iranian government believes shoot down was intentionalwas intentional

According to the US government, the According to the US government, the VincennesVincennes mistakenly identified the mistakenly identified the Iranian airliner as an attacking military Iranian airliner as an attacking military fighterfighter

President Reagan called the death of 290 President Reagan called the death of 290 civilians a “terrible human tragedy” and civilians a “terrible human tragedy” and offered $50 million in “blood money” to offered $50 million in “blood money” to their familiestheir families

Potential Factors…Potential Factors…

Commercial airliner schedules were Commercial airliner schedules were apparently not utilized. Even though apparently not utilized. Even though Flight 655 was late on departure, it Flight 655 was late on departure, it still could have been taken into still could have been taken into account when reviewed by the account when reviewed by the controllers.controllers.

High tensions that day due to High tensions that day due to gunboat battles at sea along with the gunboat battles at sea along with the presence of the P3 Orion above.presence of the P3 Orion above.

Potential Factors…Potential Factors…

Lack of training on the new Aegis Lack of training on the new Aegis combat system and lack of detail in combat system and lack of detail in the user interface – no way to know the user interface – no way to know what dots meant what on the radar.what dots meant what on the radar.

Use of military radio only. If the Use of military radio only. If the VincennesVincennes had utilized the civilian had utilized the civilian broadcast system they would have broadcast system they would have had a response from Flight 655.had a response from Flight 655.

In the endIn the end The The USS VincennesUSS Vincennes shot down 290 shot down 290

passengers and crew, including 38 passengers and crew, including 38 non-Iranians and 66 children non-Iranians and 66 children