Iran Army Helicopter Crashes Into Market, Killing Four People Immediately

Two military personnel and two civilians have been killed in a helicopter crash in Dorcheh, Isfahan province, Iran. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at a fruit market, where the aircraft reportedly crashed due to a technical fault.

The Army Aviation Training Centre has confirmed that Colonel Hamed Sarvazad, the pilot, and Major Mojtaba Kiani, his co-pilot, were among those killed in the crash. Two people working at their booths in the market also lost their lives as a result of the incident.

State media has released footage from the scene showing the wreckage and emergency responders extinguishing the fire. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by both the Army Aviation Training Centre and local authorities, led by Asadollah Jafari, the judiciary chief.

This incident follows a similar crash involving an Iranian Air Force fighter jet in Hamadan province just over a week ago. In that incident, one pilot was killed and another survived after ejecting from the aircraft. The cause of both crashes is believed to be related to technical faults.

Iran’s military has been facing challenges in upgrading its ageing fleet of aircraft due to decades-long sanctions imposed by the US and its allies. The country has sought to acquire advanced fighter jets, including Su-35s, but deliveries have yet to materialize from Russia.

The crash occurred amid rising tensions between Iran and the US ahead of a new round of nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Iranian officials have stated that they will not compromise on their stance regarding US pressure.

Source: Al Jazeera