Tehran: A military helicopter plunged into a bustling fruit and vegetable market in central Iran’s Dorcheh city on Tuesday, killing four people including two pilots and two civilians, state media reported.
The incident, which unfolded during a routine training flight, marked the second deadly aviation mishap in Iran within a week, highlighting the nation’s ongoing struggles with aging helicopers and jets amid international sanctions.
Reports said the army helicopter, operating from a nearby base in Isfahan province, reportedly suffered a sudden technical failure about 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Tehran, witnesses and official sources said.
Iranian state television aired dramatic footage of twisted wreckage scattered across market stalls, with thick black smoke rising and emergency crews rushing to help the injured.
Both the pilot and co-pilot perished instantly upon impact, while two civilians also lost their lives in the chaos, according to Fars News Agency. One other civilian sustained injuries but was reported stable after hospital treatment.
Local authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, with cleanup operations underway by midday. No official cause has been confirmed pending investigation, though preliminary reports point to mechanical issues.
Tuesday’s tragedy follows closely on an F-4 fighter jet crash near the western city of Hamedan last Thursday, where one pilot died and the other ejected safely. Iran has endured a string of such accidents, linked to its reliance on decades-old US-made helicopters and Soviet-era jets.
