On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, mistaking it for a military threat amid heightened tensions during the Iran-Iraq war. Captain William Rogers ordered missile fire after the aircraft failed to respond to military communication, resulting in the deaths of 290 civilians. The U.S. government deemed the incident a tragic mistake, offering $50 million in 'blood money' to victims' families, while Iran viewed the attack as intentional.

1. Blood Money Iran Air 655

2. Background: 1980s Iran/Iraq war USS Vincennes assigned to Persian Gulf July 3, 1988 USS Vincennes in intense sea battle with Iran gunboats around the Strait of Hormuz

3. Anything that approaches will be assessed as a threat on this particular day Above an Iranian P3 Orion was doing surveillance – this put Captain William Rogers and the crew on edge The P3 could call an Iranian air strike Also important – F14’s had recently been delivered to nearby Bandar Abbas airport

4. Meanwhile… Iran Air Flight 655 leaves from Bandar Abbas airport 27 minutes late It was headed on a short flight to Dubai

5. On the Vincennes Controller recognizes a new blip on the radar He sends out the IFF signal detection Codes 1,2 & 4 represent Military Flight 655 squawked back code 3 All planes have code 3, it could represent friend or foe

6. In control room, the radar that was utilized could not determine size or type of aircraft The Vincennes sent out radio communication warning Flight 655 of impending approach on the ship

7. Vincennes was only utilizing military frequencies and so Flight 655 never responded Under assumption of impending danger, Capt. Rogers ordered fire of missiles

8. Flight path of Flight 655

9. Repercussions… Iranian government believes shoot down was intentional According to the US government, the Vincennes mistakenly identified the Iranian airliner as an attacking military fighter President Reagan called the death of 290 civilians a “terrible human tragedy” and offered $50 million in “blood money” to their families

10. Potential Factors… Commercial airliner schedules were apparently not utilized. Even though Flight 655 was late on departure, it still could have been taken into account when reviewed by the controllers. High tensions that day due to gunboat battles at sea along with the presence of the P3 Orion above.

11. Potential Factors… Lack of training on the new Aegis combat system and lack of detail in the user interface – no way to know what dots meant what on the radar. Use of military radio only. If the Vincennes had utilized the civilian broadcast system they would have had a response from Flight 655.

12. In the end The USS Vincennes shot down 290 passengers and crew, including 38 non-Iranians and 66 children