A passenger jet operated by Ukraine International Airlines crashed on Wednesday, shortly after taking off from Tehran's international airport in Iran.

Everyone on board the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was killed. The 167 passengers and nine crew members were heading to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.

Eighty-two Iranians, 63 Canadians, and 11 Ukrainians died in the crash, which took place between the Iranian cities of Parand and Shahriar, according to a tweet from Ukrainian foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko. There were also 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals among the victims, he said.

Iran's Civil Aviation Authority said it has launched an investigation. Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA previously reported the crash was due to technical difficulties.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Tehran replaced its earlier statement saying terrorism or rocket attacks had been ruled out as causes of the crash.

"Information on the causes of the plane crash is being clarified by the commission," it said.