Iranian rescuers find wreckage from plane crash on mountain

TEHRAN, IRAN» Iranian search and rescue teams on Monday reached the site of a plane crash that killed all 65 people on board, Iran’s Press TV reported.

The Aseman Airlines ATR-72, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-distance regional flying, went down Sunday in foggy weather, crashing into Mount Dena in a remote area of southern Iran. The airliner said all on board Flight EP3704 were killed, including six crew members.

The crash of the aircraft, brought back into service only months ago after being grounded for seven years, was yet another fatal aviation disaster for Iran, which for years was barred from buying necessary airplane parts because of Western sanctions over its contested nuclear program.

Press TV said search teams reached the crash site before dawn Monday. The station said the weather had improved, although it was still windy. The semi-official Tasnim news agency cited the military as saying Russia had helped locate the crash site. Russia and Iran are close military allies.

The broadcast footage of a helicopter joining the search showed ambulances and rescue vehicles preparing to reach the site on Mount Dena, which is about 14,400 feet tall. The site is reportedly at a height of 11,500 feet.

Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi left Tehran on Monday to visit the site of the crash, state TV reported. Footage posted on independent news websites showed him in the cockpit of a plane taking part in the search.