7 years ago
An Iranian passenger plane with 66 people on board crashed in central Iran on Sunday during a flight from Tehran to the city of Yasuj in southwestern Iran, Iranian media reported. The plane crashed in a mountainous area near the town of Semirom, the news agency ISNA quoted emergency services spokesman Mojtaba Khaledi as saying. State-run PressTV said 66 people were on board the Aseman flight, Reuters reported.
Here are the highlights of the Iranian plane crash:
A man who missed the doomed flight told reporters of his mixed emotions. "God has been really kind to me but I am so sad from the bottom of my heart for all those dear ones who lost their lives," the unnamed man told the Tabnak news agency, which showed a picture of his unused ticket.
Mohammad Tabatabaie, Aseman's public relations chief, told the ISNA news agency that, "Given the special circumstances of the region, we still have no access to the spot of the crash and therefore we cannot accurately and definitely confirm the death of all passengers of this plane".
Iran airline retracts toll of 66 dead in plane crash according to the news agency AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday offered his condolences over the 66 people killed in an Iranian plane crash. He said at the Munich Security Conference, "I take this opportunity to send condolences to the families of the 66 civilians that lost their lives in the plane accident today,".
The plane was carrying 60 passengers, including one child, as well as six crew members, the official said.
"After searches in the area, unfortunately we were informed that the plane crashed. Unfortunately, all our dear ones lost their lives in this incident," Mohammad Tabatabai, public relations director for Aseman Airlines, told state broadcaster IRIB.
All 66 dead in Iran plane crash, the airline says.
Iran has suffered several plane crashes in the past few decades. Tehran says US sanctions have long prevented it from buying new aircraft or spare parts from the West.
Semirom's governor said rescue helicopters were unable to land in the crash site because of heavy fog and emergency workers were trying to reach the area by land, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the national emergency services, told the semi-official ISNA news agency that a helicopter had been sent to the area. "Given the fact that the area is mountainous, it is not possible to send ambulances," he said.
"An ATR aircraft of Aseman Airlines with 60 passengers and about six crew disappeared from radar this morning," Aladin Borujerdi, head of parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, told the semi-official ISNA news agency. "Observation by people (in the area) indicates a crash," he said, adding that he was still awaiting confirmation.
