Military plane crash in Iran, at least 100 dead

December 6, 2005

Authorities have confirmed 128 dead following a plane crash in Tehran. The Iranian Air Force C-130 military transport plane collided with a 10-storey apartment building, while attempting to make an emergency landing.

The air force airliner crashed at approximately 14:10 local time (10:40 UTC) nearing the runway in Mehrabad International Airport for an emergency landing because of an engine malfunction eight minutes after the initial take-off, killing all 94 people aboard and sparking fires in the apartment building that houses about 250 people consisting of military personnel and their families. 34 people has been killed from the residents and 132 injured. Most of the airplane passengers were Iranian radio and television journalists.

The victims have been recovered to nearby hospitals in Towhid residential area in southern Tehran.