The Israeli Air Force (IAF) claims it destroyed Iran’s government Airbus A340-300, the VIP transport known as “Iran Force One,” at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
The IAF described the plane as a “strategic asset” of the “Iranian terror regime.” The aircraft, registered as EP-IGA, is believed to have been used by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
The strike comes as the Middle East conflict enters its third week following the February 28 joint U.S.–Israeli operation that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
חיל-האוויר השמיד את מטוסו של מנהיג משטר הטרור האיראני בשדה התעופה ״מהאראבד״ שבטהרן – המטוס שימש את עלי ח׳אמנהאי, מנהיג משטר הטרור האיראני, בכירים נוספים ממשטר הטרור וגורמים בצבא איראן, לקידום רכש צבאי ולניהול קשרים עם מדינות הציר באמצעות טיסות פנים וחוץ.
השמדת המטוס פוגעת… pic.twitter.com/lOtRRIHTff
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 16, 2026
“The destruction of the plane impairs the ability to coordinate between the leadership of the Iranian terror regime and Axis countries, in building military power, and in the regime’s rehabilitation capability,” the IAF said in a post on X.
Open-source reports said video allegedly taken during the strike on the Iranian A340-300 Airbus at Mehrabad International Airport geolocates the attack at the western hangars complex.
Video allegedly taken during the strike on the VIP Iranian A340 Airbus in Mehrabad airport geolocates the strike at the western hangars complex which is close to the AA defenses and has access to the open southern runway.
Rough Point of Impact (POI) #geoposted 35.69465,51.271681 pic.twitter.com/zFBPfCZnPa— OSGINT (@posted_news) March 16, 2026
Earlier satellite images revealed the A340 positioned in various dispersed locations across the airport, often among abandoned aircraft, likely as a deliberate attempt to hinder targeting.
The runway at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport has been blocked with parked buses and helicopters, apparently to make it unusable and prevent further strikes or aircraft operations.
Satellite imagery from March 7 also shows visible damage at the airport following heavy bombing during… pic.twitter.com/GyG8NB2LCo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 12, 2026
As of this writing, the destruction of the aircraft has not been independently verified.
Widely referred to as “Iran Force One” in reference to the U.S. president’s Air Force One, the A340 has been used for a variety of long-haul missions, taking advantage of its widebody capacity and intercontinental range.
VIP-configured A340s have long been popular for government transport. An A340 from Iran’s fleet carried President Masoud Pezeshkian to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in 2024.
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) used the Airbus A340-313X aircraft (Serial 5-8405, registration EP-IGA) to carry the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to the New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.
This aircraft (MSN:257) was part of the fleet of Air Canada (C-GDVV),… pic.twitter.com/ILWzTpcUW8
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) September 23, 2024
Governments in Egypt, France, Jordan, Libya, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also used VIP-configured A340s.
