PLANE CRASHES IN THICK FOG KILLING ALL 65 ABOARD

A PLANE brought back into service only months ago after being grounded for seven years has crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of southern Iran, killing all 65 people on board.

The crash of the Aseman Airlines ATR-72 was yet another fatal aviation disaster for Iran, which for years was barred from buying necessary aeroplane parts due to Western sanctions over its contested nuclear program.

The plane went down near its destination of the southern city of Yasuj, some 780km south of the capital Tehran, where it took off.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, although weather was severe. Dense fog, high winds and heavy snow in the Zagros Mountains made it impossible for rescue crews in helicopters to reach the site.

Aseman Airlines spokesman Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai told state TV that all on board Flight EP3704 were killed.

It had 59 passengers and six crew members.

Picture: AP Family members of a plane crash victim weep in the village of Bideh. All 65 people aboard Flight EP3704 were killed.