A military aircraft has crashed near the Iranian city of Sarvestan, which is about 80 kilometres east of Shiraz in the southern Fars province.

The aircraft was on a training mission on 10 April with the Iranian Air Force. The pilot was killed in the crash. An investigation is now under way into the cause of the accident. The aircraft is reported to be a Sukhoi training aircraft.

Because of sanctions, Iran is unable to buy new aircraft or new equipment. Iranian airlines are therefore forced to operate old and unsafe aircraft, resulting in a troubled safety record.

On 10 January, an Iran Air passenger plane crashed in the northern city of Orumiyeh (MEED 10:1:11).