Trudeau: Canadians deserve answers on plane crash

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday vowed his government will get answers after a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed, killing at least 63 Canadians, just minutes after taking off from Iran's capital.

Speaking in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, Trudeau said 138 passengers on the flight were connecting to Canada.

The flight included many international students who were studying at universities across Canada. Newlyweds and a Canadian family of four were also on the flight.

Trudeau said his government is reaching out to his international counterparts.

Getting answers from Iran might prove difficult as Canada closed its embassy in Iran in 2012 and suspended diplomatic relations.

The crash of the Ukraine International Airlines plane came hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing US soldiers, but Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue brought down the 3½-year-old Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Ukrainian officials initially agreed, but later backed away and declined to offer a cause while the investigation is ongoing.

Marc Garneau, Canadian Minister of Transport, said it was too early to speculate, but that initial data suggests "something very unusual happened."