70 feared killed in Iranian plane crash

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Tehran: At least 70 passengers of an Iranian passenger aircraft were feared killed when the plane crashed in the mountainous Urumiyey region in bad weather on Sunday.  35 more were injured. Reports said that the plane crashed while landing in the city’s airport. The plane was smashed to pieces, but did not explode, officials of Iran Air told TV channels. Shahrokh Nioushabadi, a spokesman for Iran’s airline Iran Air was quoted by the Mehr news agency that there were two children among the passengers. State television said the plane was going to Urumiyeh from Tehran when it crashed.

According to reports, the passenger plane was carrying 106 people, 12 crew members and 94 passengers when it crashed while landing in the city of Urumiyey. The city is located at1000 km northwest from Tehran, in the mountains. 

Iranian aircrafts are either out dated or run short of repair facilities, due to the sanctions imposed by the US on the purchase of aircraft and spare parts by the country.