What happened
During a descent toward Tehran-Mehrabad Airport, the flight crew received instructions from Air Traffic Control indicating that landing was unavailable due to poor visibility resulting from snowfall. Consequently, the aircraft was directed into a holding pattern.
After performing two holding circuits, the crew initiated a second approach attempt. During this phase of flight, the four-engine aircraft crashed at a location roughly 10 km west of the airport. The accident resulted in 22 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
Investigators have noted that the crash occurred amidst heavy snow and low visibility. While the official cause is under investigation, the possibility that fuel exhaustion led to a loss of control remains a factor that has not been dismissed.