5 die as plane crashes in central Iran

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Feb. 16 – An aircraft crashed on Sunday in central Iran, killing five people, state media reported.

Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Feb. 16 – An aircraft crashed on Sunday in central Iran, killing five people, state media reported.

A report in the official IRNA news agency said that the aircraft came down in Isfahan province during a training flight, killing the pilot and four crew members.

The report said that the cause of the crash was under investigation, but it did not say whether the plane was civilian or military.

The Iranian military operates a rusty fleet of warplanes since U.S. trade sanctions prevent it from being able to buy new parts.

Last July, a Chinese-made F-7 fighter jet, owned by Iran, crashed in the south-west Khuzistan Province.

In April 2008, a Russian-made Sukhoi jet belonging to the Iranian military burst into flames after crashing at Tehran's Mehrabad airport.

In November 2007, an Iranian F-4 Phantom jet crashed in the Sea of Oman, leaving two people dead.

In May 2007, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet crashed near the town of Andimeshk in Khuzistan Province.