Iranian military helicopter crashes into market, four dead

An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of the pilot, co-pilot, and two vendors, according to official reports.

The crash occurred in the city of Dorcheh, igniting a fire that was later extinguished by emergency crews, authorities said.

The pilot, co-pilot, and two local fruit vendors died in the incident, the official IRNA news agency reported, citing a “technical malfunction” as the cause.

Iran, dealing with international sanctions, has experienced several aviation accidents recently, with officials voicing frustrations over restricted access to spare parts needed to maintain outdated aircraft.

Experts note that Iran’s aviation safety record is troubling, with numerous crashes often involving aircraft purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many lacking authentic spare components for upkeep.

Just last week, an Iranian F-4 fighter jet, supplied by the United States, crashed during a training mission in Hamadan Province, killing one pilot.