Fighter jet crashes in southern Iran, killing 2

Fighter jet crashes in southern Iran, killing 2

2012-01-27 18:09:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

BUSHEHR, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed on early Thursday morning when a fighter jet crashed in the southern region of Iran, state-run media reported on Friday. There were no survivors.

The accident happened at around 4:30 a.m. local time when a U.S.-manufactured F-14 fighter jet crashed near the village of Kereband in the southern coastal province of Bushehr, the Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

MNA said the accident took place about three minutes after take-off as the result of a 'technical malfunction', but gave no specific details. The agency said both the pilot and co-pilot were killed.

Iranian aircraft are frequently involved in accidents which the Iranian government blames on sanctions by the international community. The sanctions, mainly over the country's nuclear program, prevent airlines and the government from buying spare parts and carrying out proper maintenance.

In September 2011, at least eleven people were injured when a Mahan Air passenger plane, an Airbus A310-300, crash-landed at Mashhad International Airport in northeastern Iran. State-run media said the accident happened when the front landing gear collapsed upon landing.

And in January 2011, a total of 77 people were killed when Iran Air Flight 277 crashed during bad weather conditions near Urmia Airport in northwest Iran. Twenty-eight others survived the accident.

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