Iran plane crash kills all 65 people on board
ALL 65 people on board an Iranian commercial aeroplane that crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of southern Iran have died.
The aircraft was brought back into service only months ago after being grounded for seven years.
The crash of the Aseman Airlines ATR-72 marks yet another fatal aviation disaster for Iran which for years was barred from buying airplane parts for needed maintenance due to Western sanctions over its contested nuclear programme.
Its nuclear accord with world powers now allows it to get those
parts, and the country has made deals worth tens of billions of dollars for new aircraft. However, US President Donald Trump’s refusal to re-certify the deal has injected uncertainty into those sales while Iranians still fly in ageing aircraft.
The ATR-72, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-distance regional flying, went down near its destination of the southern Iranian city of Yasuj, some 485 miles south of the Iranian capital, Tehran, where it took off.
It is not clear what caused the crash, although weather was severe in the area. Dense fog, high winds and heavy snow in the Zagros Mountains made it impossible for rescue crews in helicopters to reach the site yesterday, state television reported.
Aseman Airlines spokesman Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai said all on board Flight No. EP3704 were killed. Those on board included 59 passengers and six crew members.
“After searching the area, we learned that unfortunately ... our dear passengers had lost their lives,” Mr Tabatabai said.
Both Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani offered their condolences.
Mr Tabatabai said the plane crashed into Mount Dena, which is about 14,435 feet high.
The plane’s last signal, at 05.55 GMT, showed it at 16,975 feet and descending, according to airplane-tracking website FlightRadar24.
The pilot was in contact with the tower 14 miles from the airport, state TV said.