Aircraft crash near Tehran-Mehrabad Airport

106 fatalities • Tehran-Mehrabad, Iran • Landing (descent or approach)

A four-engine aircraft crashed in a residential district of Tehran while attempting an emergency return to the airport following engine issues.

What happened

An aircraft departed from Tehran-Mehrabad Airport bound for Bandar Abbas, transporting 84 passengers and 10 crew members. The flight was carrying several members of the press, including journalists from local news outlets and Iranian National TV, who were traveling to observe military exercises.

Approximately eight minutes into the flight, during the climb phase, the pilot notified air traffic control of a technical malfunction involving the fourth engine. Consequently, the crew decided to abort the mission and requested permission to perform an emergency landing back at Tehran-Mehrabad.

While the aircraft was descending toward the runway, it experienced a stall. The plane subsequently crashed into a residential neighborhood in the Yaft Abad district, roughly 2 km south of the threshold of runway 29L. The impact also struck a nine-story residential building.

Findings

  • The accident resulted in 94 fatalities among the aircraft occupants.
  • The crash also caused the deaths of 12 individuals residing in the impacted building.
  • At the time of the incident, visibility was limited to 1,500 meters because of haze.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall during an emergency descent following an engine malfunction.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2005-12-06 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident near Tehran-Mehrabad, Iran?

A four-engine aircraft crashed in a residential district of Tehran while attempting an emergency return to the airport following engine issues.

Were there any fatalities in the 2005-12-06 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 106 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-12-06 involved a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration 5-8519, operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, at Tehran-Mehrabad, Iran.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft entered a stall during an emergency descent following an engine malfunction.

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