TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Four people lost their lives Tuesday when an Iranian military helicopter went down in a bustling produce market in the central part of the country.
The deadly incident occurred in Dorcheh, a town located approximately 205 miles south of Tehran in Isfahan province, according to Iranian state television. The region houses a significant Iranian air base and includes nuclear facilities that were targeted by U.S. forces during the Iran-Israel conflict in June.
State television confirmed the aircraft was conducting training exercises when it went down. Both the pilot and co-pilot perished in the accident, with footage revealing wreckage and smoke billowing from the marketplace.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that two civilians at the market were also killed in the crash.
The tragedy represents Iran’s second aviation accident in under a week. An F-4 fighter aircraft went down near the western city of Hamedan, claiming the life of one pilot.
Such fatal incidents have become increasingly common in Iran. International sanctions have severely limited access to replacement parts for aircraft, forcing the nation to operate an outdated fleet of helicopters and planes for both military and civilian purposes.
