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Military plane crashes in Tehran | Military plane crashes in Tehran |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An Iranian military plane has crashed while taking off from an airport in Tehran, killing elite troops. | An Iranian military plane has crashed while taking off from an airport in Tehran, killing elite troops. |
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that 36 people on board the Russian-built Antonov-74 had been killed - 30 soldiers and six crew. | Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that 36 people on board the Russian-built Antonov-74 had been killed - 30 soldiers and six crew. |
Two soldiers survived and were being treated in hospital, it added. | Two soldiers survived and were being treated in hospital, it added. |
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards suggested to a local news agency that there may have been foul play, but he gave no further details. | The commander of the Revolutionary Guards suggested to a local news agency that there may have been foul play, but he gave no further details. |
Safety doubts | |
The plane was due to fly from Mehrabad airport to the southern city of Shiraz but crashed at the end of the runway. | |
A representative of parliament's national security committee said the plane's right engine failed, causing the wing tip to touch the runway and explode. | |
The statement from the Revolutionary Guards said that the soldiers "were going to southern Iran on a mission". | The statement from the Revolutionary Guards said that the soldiers "were going to southern Iran on a mission". |
The guards are the ideological wing of the Iranian military and are believed to have wide influence in the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | |
There were reportedly several senior officers on board the plane. | There were reportedly several senior officers on board the plane. |
The BBC correspondent in Tehran says Iran has an appalling air safety record. | The BBC correspondent in Tehran says Iran has an appalling air safety record. |
There have been a number of disasters in recent years - this is the fourth plane crash in less than a year. | There have been a number of disasters in recent years - this is the fourth plane crash in less than a year. |
Almost a year ago, a military transport aircraft crashed, killing 128 people. | Almost a year ago, a military transport aircraft crashed, killing 128 people. |
That plane was attempting an emergency landing at Tehran airport when it hit a 10-storey building nearby. | That plane was attempting an emergency landing at Tehran airport when it hit a 10-storey building nearby. |