[Plan Crash] Iran airliner crashes, at least 38 dead

An Iranian passenger plane crashed Sunday (Aug 10) moments after takeoff from Tehran, killing at least 38 on board and narrowly avoiding many more deaths when it plummeted near a busy market.

The plane was headed to the eastern city of Tabas, the IRNA and Fars news agencies said, when it crashed at 9.18 am (0448 GMT), after leaving Mehrabad airport. It triggered a fireball when it smashed into the capital's Azadi neighbourhood, close to where hundreds of military families live, and only a few hundred metres from a row of shops.

Iran's deputy transport minister, Ahmad Majidi, said the Antonov An-140 turboprop plane had 40 passengers, including six children, and eight crew on board, and he put the death toll at 38. A fire official initially said all on board had been killed but Fars later reported that 37 bodies were sent to the morgue and IRNA said nine people were hospitalised, two of them critically injured.

The aircraft was operated by Sepahan Airlines and a tailfin bearing the company's dolphin logo could be seen sticking out of the road as security forces cordoned off the crash site where firefighters had doused the flames. Black smoke billowed from the mass of burnt out twisted metal, with officials saying the plane hit a wall and trees.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/iran-airliner-crashes-at/1306046.html