An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a busy fruit and vegetable market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co‑pilot and two merchants, state media and international news agencies reported. The incident occurred in the city of Dorcheh (Khomeyni Shahr County), about 330 km south of Tehran, where emergency services responded to the scene and extinguished a fire caused by the crash.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the military aircraft came down near the local wholesale produce market, with all four fatalities confirmed. Initial state reports attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, though Iranian authorities have not yet released a full official investigation report.
The accident adds to a pattern of aviation safety challenges in Iran, where sanctions have constrained access to original aircraft spare parts, forcing continued reliance on ageing fleets in both civilian and military sectors. Experts have previously noted a history of air accidents involving older aircraft in the country.
This helicopter crash comes less than a week after a U.S.‑built F‑4 fighter jet belonging to Iran’s regular air force crashed in the western province of Hamadan during a training flight, killing one pilot, highlighting persistent operational risks within Iran’s military aviation.
Authorities at the crash site showed debris and smoke in state media footage, and no further details have been released about the specific type of helicopter or the full sequence of events leading up to the incident. Investigators are expected to examine technical and operational records to clarify the cause.