An Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit market in Isfahan province during an exercise, killing four people, including crew members and civilians. The accident highlights the serious problems of the Iranian air force due to outdated machines.
An Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday. At least four people lost their lives in the accident, state media reported. TASR writes about it according to reports from the AFP, AP and Reuters agencies.
The pilot, co-pilot and two fruit sellers were among the dead, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said, attributing the crash to a “technical fault”. The tragedy occurred in the Khomeinishahr district when an army helicopter crashed during a training flight.
Strategic location of the province
In the province of Isfahan, there is an important Iranian air base, as well as a nuclear power plant, which was struck by the United States last June, AP reminds.
This is the second plane crash in the country in less than a week. On Thursday, an F-4 fighter jet crashed near the city of Hamedan in western Iran. The accident, which killed one of the pilots, occurred during a nighttime exercise, Iranian state television reported.
Old machines and sanctions
Western sanctions have significantly limited the supply of spare parts for planes and helicopters, leaving the country reliant on an outdated fleet. Repeated crashes mainly concern machines purchased before the Islamic revolution in 1979, writes Reuters.
