Plane Crash in Tehran, Iran: 39 People Dead

Tehran, Iran – Iranian Built Plane Crashes – 39 People Dead – VIDEO

Plane Crash in Tehran Mehrabad

Tehran Plan Crash – 39 people were killed today after an Iranian built plane crash in Tehran. The Sepahan Air regional airliner, which was headed to Tabas from the Tehran Mehrabad airport, crashed in a residential area right after takeoff at 9:20 a.m.

It was reported by State TV that the tail of the plane struck cables on an electricity tower and subsequently hit the ground, exploding into flames. Some of the victims bodies were burned so badly that DNA tests will be required to identify them.

The Ukrainian designed, 52 passenger, twin-engine turboprop Iran-140, a version of the Antonov An-140, is assembled under license in Iran.

Iranian airlines often lack adequate funding, resulting in poor maintenance upkeep. Sanctions imposed because of Iran’s nuclear program have made it hard to obtain Western-made plane parts.

Mehrdad Lahouti, an Iranian Lawmaker, mentioned on Sunday that this plane crash should be a wake-up call.

“Lawmakers visited the production site of the plane and expressed concern about its (safety),” IRNA quoted him as saying. “This company should have not been allowed to operate the plane to avoid such a bitter incident.”

Orders from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani state that this type of plane may no longer be used until a comprehensive investigation is carried out.

Iran’s Airline industry has dealt with many different crashes in the last few years including an Air Boeing 727 in January 2011 killing 77 people, a Russian-made jetliner in July 2009 killing 168 people, and a Russian-made Ilyushin 76 in February 2003 killing 302 people.