Helicopter crash kills four in central Iran

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least four people were killed on Tuesday when a military helicopter belonging to Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force crashed into a fruit market in the city of Khomeynishahr, according to Iranian state media.

The aircraft crash caused fatalities both onboard and on the ground. The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, along with two fruit vendors working at the market, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Authorities cited a “technical malfunction” as the preliminary cause of the incident.

No further details were immediately released about the model of the helicopter or the circumstances leading up to the crash. An investigation is reportedly underway.

The tragedy comes amid ongoing concerns about aviation safety in Iran. The country’s civilian and military fleets are widely considered to be aging, a situation Iranian officials have frequently attributed to decades of international sanctions that have restricted access to spare parts, maintenance equipment, and new aircraft.

In recent years, Iran has experienced multiple air incidents involving both civilian and military aircraft. On Thursday, a fighter jet crashed during a late-night training exercise in Hamedan province, killing one of the two pilots onboard, according to state reports.