TEHRAN, Iran — The Latest on the cargo plane crash in Iran (all times local):
11:35 a.m.
An Iranian emergency management official has told state TV that 16 people were on board a Boeing 707 cargo plane that crashed west of Tehran and that there is only one known survivor.
Pirhossein Koulivand made the comment to state TV on Monday, shortly after the crash at Fath Airport west of Tehran. The plane was supposed to land at another nearby airport.
The plane was carrying a cargo of meat from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, to Iran.
Iran’s air force said in a statement that fate of the crew, including their possible “martyrdom,” is under investigation.
Iranians often use the word “martyrdom” for those who die in war or national service, suggesting the aircraft may have belong to the air force. The air force does operate Boeing 707s.
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10:30 a.m.
Iran’s state TV says a Boeing 707 Kyrgyz cargo plane has crashed west of Tehran amid severe weather and that there are fears all 10 crew members have been killed.
The TV says a fire engulfed the plane immediately after the crash in the town of Safadasht. It’s about 50 kilometres, or 30 miles, southwest of Tehran. It says rescue teams, including ambulances and a helicopter, have rushed to the site of the crash.
The report says the crash occurred as the plane was making a landing approach heading for the wrong airport and trying to land at a non-commercial airport near a residential area instead of a cargo airport some 4 kilometres, or 2.5 miles away.
The plane was carrying a cargo of meat from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Iran.
The Associated Press
