The crash occurred hours after Iran fired a missile strike at US forces in Iraq, in retaliation for the killing of a top Iranian general.

這起失事發生的幾小時前，伊朗才為了報復美國殺害該國首級將領而發射飛彈攻擊美軍基地。

According to US officials and others, the early evidence suggest the flight, a Boeing 737-800 was shot down by Iranian missiles.

依據美國官方及其他國家所言，初期證據指出，該波音 737-800 航班被伊朗的飛彈擊落。

We have intelligence from multiple sources including our allies and our own intelligence.

我們有眾多情報來源，包含盟國以及我國的情報組織。

The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile.

證據表明，伊朗的地對空導彈擊落了該架客機。

This may well have been unintentional.

可能為非蓄意。

This new information reinforces the need for a thorough investigation into this matter.

這項新消息加深了徹查此事件的必要性。

The process for determining the cause of a plane crash can take months or even years, and often involves coordination between different countries.

釐清飛機失事起因的程序需要數月甚至數年，並且需涉及不同國家間的協調合作。

But this time with heightened tensions between the US and Iran, the process is facing complications.

但是此刻由於美國及伊朗間高漲的緊繃關係，該調查面臨了複雜的局勢。

Iranian officials had earlier said the plane suffered a technical fault.

伊朗官方稍早時表示，客機失事歸咎於技術故障。

A spokeswoman for the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said, "Ukraine is interested in finding the truth."

烏克蘭總統澤連斯基的發言人表示：「烏克蘭想要查明事實。」

"Therefore, I ask all international partners: If you have any evidence to assist the investigation, please provide it."

「因此，我籲請所有國際夥伴，若是有任何能協助調查的證據，請提供出來。」

International protocol lays down specific guidelines for conducting post-crash investigations.

國際公約明訂了執行墜機後調查的具體準則。

It's a very fluid process.

是一套非常順暢的流程。

It's concurrent actions.

包含並行的行動。

A lot of things are taking place at the same time.

很多事務同時進行。

Dr. Daniel Kwasi Adjekum is a former investigator with more than two decades of experience in aviation.

Daniel Kwasi Adjekum 博士是前任調查員，他擁有超過二十年的航空相關經驗。

Investigations are usually conducted under the auspices of the government of the country where the crash takes place.

調查通常都在失事發生國的援助下進行。

When the country of occurrence is taking the lead of the accident, the country of registry and operator of the aircraft will be notified so that they can send in what we call an accredited representative to be part of the investigation.

當失事發生國率先調查意外時，將通知該飛機登記經營的國家，這樣他們就能夠派遣所謂的官方代表來參與調查。

The country of design and manufacture of the aircraft is going to part of it, okay?

設計生產該飛機的國家也會參與調查。

So these are the major stakeholders.

所以以上是主要的利害關係人。

In a more typical accident probe involving a US-manufactured plane at least some US safety experts would be on their way to the site within a day or two.

若是較為普通的意外調查涉及了美國製造的飛機，美國的飛安專家至少在一到兩天便會前往失事現場。

But given the diplomatic and security issues clouding this accident, decisions about US participation are in limbo.

但是由於外交及安全問題籠罩著這起失事，美方是否參與調查仍然動盪不定。

Dr. Adjekum said that countries with a high portion of citizens aboard the flight may also become involved in the investigation.

Adjekum 博士認為，高比例罹難者來自的國家可能也會涉入調查。

Even under less fraught circumstances, collaboration between multiple countries can be difficult.

儘管情勢較不緊張，多國間的合作可能也相當困難。

Dr. Adjekum said that in previous crashes like Ethiopia Airlines flight 302, healthy diplomatic relations made it safe for the two countries to collaborate.

Adjekum 博士講述到，先前伊索比亞航空 302 班機墜機時，健全的外交關係使兩國合作相當安全。

But even then, investigators tussled over where to send the plane's black boxes.

但就算是當時，調查員們還是激烈爭論飛機的黑盒子該送至何處。

But in this case because of the particular situation where the two of them cannot reconcile, a third party entity might suffice.

然而在現在這個事件中，因為特殊情況導致美伊兩方無法調解，需要第三方介入才有辦法調查。

So what could happen is that in such a situation ICAO might broker a third party.

在這樣的情形下，國際民航組織可能會安排第三方協理。

Most likely the French or the Germans might be brought in by the Iranians to do the read out.

伊朗最有可能要求法國或德國來進行證據宣讀。

Once an investigation shifts into national security or military issues, civil investigators generally are relegated to a marginal role.

一旦調查重心轉向國安及軍事問題，民航調查員將被降至邊緣角色。

If they have hard evidences based on maybe satellite photography which sort of irrefutable, then the dynamics change, it becomes a criminal investigation.

如果他們有基於衛星攝影的無可辯駁鐵證，這將會轉為犯罪調查。

When that happens, international treaties about data sharing and broad participation no longer apply.

這樣以來，國際間的資訊共享及廣泛參與的條約不再適用。

And participants tend to be focused on protecting intelligence sources.

而相關參與者會傾向注重保護情報來源。

Despite the hurdles, Iranian authorities have indicated through intermediaries, including the Civil Aviation arm of the United Nations, they want the US National Transportation Safety Board to provide technical assistance.

儘管障礙重重，伊朗當局還是透過聯合國的民航組織等中間調解單位表明，他們希望美國國家運輸安全委員會能提供技術協助。

In the normal course, this also would mean some level of participation from the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and General Electric company, which made the plane's jets with a French joint venture partner.

就正常程序而言，這也代表美國聯邦航空總署將某種程度上介入，與法國合資夥伴一同製造該飛機的波音公司及奇異電子公司也會有所參與。