Military Helicopter Crashes into Busy Market

Four people have been confirmed dead after a helicopter belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force crashed into a fruit market in central Iran on Tuesday, according to state media.

The aircraft went down in the city of Khomeynishahr, in Isfahan province, causing panic among traders and shoppers in the busy marketplace. Iran’s official news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency, reported that the crash was caused by a “technical malfunction.”

The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, along with two fruit vendors who were on the ground when the helicopter struck the market. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident, and authorities cordoned off the area as investigations began.

There were no immediate reports of additional casualties, though images circulating in local media showed debris scattered across the market and damage to nearby stalls.

The latest tragedy adds to a string of aviation incidents in Iran in recent years. The country has long struggled with maintaining its ageing aircraft fleet, with officials frequently pointing to international sanctions that have made it difficult to obtain spare parts and modern equipment.

Just days earlier, an Iranian fighter jet crashed during a late-night training exercise in Hamedan province, killing one of the two pilots on board, according to state television. The back-to-back incidents were likely to renew concerns about the safety and maintenance of Iran’s military aircraft.