A military helicopter operated by the Iranian Army crashed into a bustling fruit market in Dorcheh, Isfahan province, on Tuesday, resulting in four confirmed fatalities. The deceased include both the aircraft’s pilot and co-pilot, alongside two local merchants who were present at the scene.
Initial reports from state media indicate the crash triggered an immediate fire, which emergency response teams successfully extinguished. The incident has drawn renewed attention to Iran’s longstanding aviation safety challenges.
Aviation experts frequently attribute Iran’s poor air safety record to an aging fleet, largely composed of aircraft procured prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. These older models face significant maintenance hurdles due to international sanctions that severely restrict access to original manufacturer parts and technical support.
This tragedy follows another recent military aviation incident in Iran. Just last week, a US-manufactured F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during a training exercise in Hamadan province, claiming the life of one pilot. These consecutive accidents highlight persistent operational risks within the country’s military aviation branches.