Caspian Airlines plane held in Türkiye returning to Iran

Caspian Airlines said a plane held in Türkiye would return to Iran on September 29 after legal and administrative procedures were completed to secure its release, Iran International reports.

Earlier, Turkish media reported that the aircraft had been stopped in Istanbul over a €3 million debt and following a court order issued after a complaint by a monitoring services company.

Passengers were removed from the plane and taken back to the terminal.

Caspian Airlines described the issue as an “administrative matter” that had temporarily restricted the aircraft’s use.

Caspian Airlines is an Iranian airline founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tehran. It operates domestic flights across Iran as well as international services, including routes to Türkiye.

The aircraft seized in Istanbul, registered as EP-KPB, is a Boeing 737-500. Fleet records indicate that it joined Caspian Airlines in January 2020.

Despite extensive restrictions linked to US sanctions, the airline continues to operate international flights alongside its domestic Iranian network.

Caspian Airlines was not among the 27 Iranian airlines newly designated by the US Treasury in September 2026. However, the carrier has been under US sanctions since 2014.

By Aghakazim Guliyev