An Iranian army helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market near Isfahan on Tuesday, killing four people, including the pilot, co‑pilot, and two civilians on the ground.
The crash occurred in Khomeinishahr, Dorcheh town, about 330 kilometres south of Tehran. Emergency services confirmed fatalities after the aircraft went down inside the busy marketplace. State television showed debris scattered across stalls and smoke rising from the site.
Reports said the helicopter belonged to the Iranian army’s Air Force and was on a training mission. The accident triggered a fire that emergency responders later extinguished. Authorities launched an investigation, with initial findings pointing to a technical malfunction.
The tragedy marked Iran’s second aviation accident in less than a week. A US‑built F‑4 fighter jet from Iran’s regular air force crashed near Hamedan during a training flight, killing one pilot.
International agencies highlighted Iran’s aviation safety challenges. Analysts linked repeated crashes to sanctions restricting access to original spare parts, forcing reliance on ageing aircraft across military and civilian fleets.
Emergency crews cleared debris and secured the crash site as officials began preliminary assessments. The incident underscored the risks faced by Iran’s air fleet and renewed concerns about operational safety.
