TEHRAN, Aug 10: An Iranian passenger plane crashed today moments after takeoff from Tehran, killing at least 38 on board and narrowly avoiding many more deaths when it plummeted near a busy market.
The plane was headed to the eastern city of Tabas, the IRNA and Fars news agencies said, when it crashed at 9.18 am local time, after leaving Mehrabad airport.
It triggered a fireball when it smashed into the capital’s Azadi neighbourhood, close to where hundreds of military families live, and only a few hundred metres (yards) from a row of shops.
Iran’s deputy transport minister, Ahmad Majidi, said the Antonov An-140 turboprop plane had 40 passengers, including six children, and eight crew on board, and he put the death toll at 38.
A fire official initially said all on board had been killed but Fars later reported that 37 bodies were sent to the morgue and IRNA said nine people were hospitalised, two of them critically injured.
The aircraft was operated by Sepahan Airlines and a tailfin bearing the company’s dolphin logo could be seen sticking out of the road as security forces cordoned off the crash site where firefighters had doused the flames.
Black smoke billowed from the mass of burnt out twisted metal, with officials saying the plane hit a wall and trees.
“The scene was terrible, with the back of the plane in the middle of the street,” one eyewitness said.
“But we were lucky because there was a market 500 metres (yards) away and a lot of people were there.”
Another eyewitness told state television: “I was on my motorbike and I heard something behind me. I turned round and it was a plane, so I got on to the ground because it was so close.
“With other people, we ran to try and save the passengers but there were two or three loud explosions and a huge fire.”
Mehrabad airport is near central Tehran and it is by far the country’s busiest domestic hub, serving routes to all major Iranian cities.
Most international passenger flights take off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, which is located further west of the capital. (AGENCY)
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