Crashed Plane Not Owned by Iran Defense Ministry


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran’s Defense Ministry on Sunday dismissed reports that the plane which crashed in Tehran earlier in the day belonged to that organization.

“The Iran-140 aircraft did not belong to the Defense Ministry and the Defense Ministry’s staff were not on board the plane,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Iran-140 passenger plane, owned by Sepahan Airline, crashed in a residential area near Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport shortly after take-off this morning.

At least 38 out of 48 passengers and crew members have been pronounced dead so far. No information are available on the cause of the crash.

The plane was destined for the city of Tabas, east of Iran.