Sepehran 737 runway excursion collapses nose gear at Mashhad

A Boeing 737 operated by Sepehran Airlines ran off the runway after touching down at Mashhad International Airport in northeastern Iran, according to Iran's Civil Aviation Organization. The flight, arriving from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, was carrying 127 passengers and crew when the aircraft left the paved surface following what the organization described as a routine landing.

Officials said no mechanical fault had been flagged before touchdown. The aircraft drifted left off the runway, crossed onto unpaved ground while still moving fast, and eventually stopped. Everyone on board evacuated without injury.

Photographs taken afterward showed the jet resting with its nose lowered to the ground, its front landing gear no longer holding it up. The runway and an adjoining taxiway were closed temporarily while the disabled plane was cleared.

Authorities have sent investigators to determine what caused the excursion. Weather at the time was reported as clear, with good visibility and only light wind, according to the civil aviation body.

The aircraft involved, registered EP-FSF, is a 737-500 built in 1992. It began service with Belgium's Sabena before passing through operators in Ukraine and Indonesia, joining Sepehran's fleet in 2016. Sepehran's fleet consists largely of older 737-300 and 737-500 variants used on domestic and regional routes within Iran.

The incident points to Iranian carriers' continued reliance on aging Western-built jets, a result of long-standing restrictions limiting the country's access to new aircraft and manufacturer-supported parts. Airlines there have instead depended on stockpiled components and locally sourced repairs to keep older fleets flying.