Training plane crashes into mountain in Iran, killing both pilots

An Iranian Air Force training aircraft with two military officers onboard crashed during a training flight in the Firuzabad and Qirokarzin counties in Fars province in southwest Iran on December 5.

According to the Air Force, the two pilots, identified as colonels Hamidreza Ranjbar and Manouchehr Pirzadeh, were killed in the crash, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

The aircraft crashed in the mountainous terrain near a military base used for training and preparation of flight personnel.

The causes of the crash remain unclear for now. However, representatives of the Iranian Air Force stressed that an investigation is underway, in which experts are analysing data on the technical condition of the aircraft, weather conditions and possible human factors.

As reported, colonels Ranjbar and Pirzadeh were experienced pilots who had served in the Air Force for many years.

By Khagan Isayev