An Iranian airliner crashed in the vicinity of Tehran’s International Mehrabad Airport just outside the capital minutes ago, leaving at least 48 dead.
The Iran-140 Sepahan Air jetliner had just taken off from Mehrabad Airport when it crashed in the outskirts of the capital at 09:20 (0450 GMT) on Sunday.
The passenger plane was bound for Tabas in Eastern Iran when it crashed in Azadi township just 5km to the West of Tehran.
Eye witness accounts said the pilot lost control at the end of the runway and crashed the plane into the ground although he managed to take off and fly for seconds.
The latest FNA reports from the crash scene said that the pilot was a Ukrainian, adding that all the 48 passengers, including five who had been thrown out during the crash, are dead. Three of the victims died on the way to the hospital aboard a rescue and relief helicopter. Firefighters said they have controlled the fire caused by the engine blast, and rescue and relief squads are now conducting search operations. Emergency teams who rushed to the scene following the incident said 3 to 7 passers-by have also been wounded in the incident.
Managing-Director of Iran’s Airport Company Mohammad Ilkhani said the plane was carrying 40 passengers and 8 crew (including the pilot, co-pilot, two flight technicians, two hostesses, and two flight security guards). Ilkhani confirmed that the pilot was about to take off at the end of the runway when he lost his starboard engine and crashed the plane seconds after take-off.
Later reports said the bodies of 10 dead passengers have so far been retrieved from the debris.
Eyewitness accounts said the plane has not crashed in residential areas of Azadi township. Other witnesses said it has crashed in an open area in a military zone belonging to the Iranian Defense Industries 6km (4 miles) to the East of the airport and close to Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex.
“The passers-by and people living in the area should thank God since the body tail hit an area only 500 yards away from a local market,” one of the eyewitnesses said.
Meantime, Head of the IRGC Public Relations Department General Ramezan Sharif strongly rejected some reports that the plane belonged to the IRGC.
Source: FARS
