Iran Air Flight 655

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/iran-air-flight-655

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the aircraft registration?EP-IBU
2. What is the flight number?IR655
3. What happened to Iran Air Flight 655?The plane was shot down by a U.S. warship called the USS Vincennes. It crashed into the sea and many people died.
4. Why did the U.S. ship think the plane was a fighter jet?The crew of the ship was in a war zone and thought the plane was a military jet because of the signals it sent. They were confused and made a mistake.

Transponder Codes: Electronic signals used by aircraft to identify themselves to radar systems.
Ex Gratia: A payment made out of goodwill or generosity, not because of legal obligation.
Ticonderoga-class Cruiser: A class of advanced United States Navy guided-missile warships equipped with sophisticated radar systems.