Can Crash Victims' Families sue Iran and US?

[Blueplanet]

Just saw on the news that the airliner was brought down by two Iranian missiles. Since the Trump administration initiated the conflict, it may be possible for families of the victims to sue the United States and Iran.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Not likely.

[EX500rider]

2. Legally the responsible party would be who ever pulled the trigger I'd say.

Should the US have blamed Iran for the shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes since Iran started the conflict the US forces were in the area for?
Or was the US responsible for their own actions as Iran should be?

[wishstar]

3. More likely they will sue the Ukrainian Airline for flying out in midst of hostilities

Although probably crew and passengers may have been relieved to be escaping Iran right before Iran could have been hit by American retaliation. The families of victims of that Malaysian airliner that was hit in eastern Ukraine during hostilities sued the airliner.

[Blueplanet]

4. Thank you wishstar

But it would not surprise me if lawyers tried to sue to see where it goes.

[Sherman A1]

5. Sure

you can sue for anything. That said, the likelihood of the suit getting anywhere very quickly if at all is pretty small.

[brooklynite]

6. No

Civil law suits are a matter of national policy. I assume that Iran won't allow it, and the US can't be sued on the basis of some other action (within the President's authority) that might have led to an action that caused the crash.

[Blueplanet]

7. Thank you all for your comments

It is so sad that the families will suffer immense grief over the death of their loved ones. Some of the victims were students returning home from vacation.

[11 Bravo]

8. Iran? Probably. But, Trump although indirectly culpable, would be a stretch.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. I suppose they could sue the U.S., but ...

... I don't think they have any chance of success. The U.S. didn't shoot down the plane (I hope). It's a stretch to say the Trump administration initiated the conflict. The conflict goes back at least to Desert Storm, and maybe further than that.

[Kingofalldems]

10. Sean Hannity put out a false report of US bombers heading to Iran.

This may have lead to the plane being attacked.