A military training jet crashed into a mountainous region near Firouzabad in Iran’s southern Fars province on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of both pilots onboard. The Iranian state media identified the pilots as Colonel Hamid Reza Ranjbar and Colonel Manouchehr Pirzadeh. Both were reportedly conducting a test flight after the jet had undergone an overhaul.
The crash took place at approximately 2:30 PM local time, in the Firouzabad and Qirokarzin counties, with the aircraft reportedly hitting a mountain. Authorities have not provided details on the cause of the crash or the exact type of the aircraft involved.
The jet was identified by some sources as a predator training aircraft, while others suggested it might have been Iran’s domestically produced “Yasin” jet trainer.
Local media shared footage showing columns of white smoke rising from the crash site. Rescue teams were dispatched to the area shortly after the incident, but the crash’s remote location and rugged terrain posed challenges for recovery efforts.
In Iran’s Firuzabad region, an Iranian training jet crashed during a test flight, killing two pilots, Colonel Hamid Reza Ranjbar and Colonel Manouchehr Pirzadeh.
While the aircraft type wasn’t specified, evidence suggests it may have been the Iran’s homegrown “Yasin” jet… pic.twitter.com/LWHuEhDz4h
— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 4, 2024
Vahid Shabani, Director-General of Security and Law Enforcement in Fars Province, confirmed the fatalities and described the victims as “martyrs,” a term frequently used in Iran for individuals who die in service to the country. He added that more information about the crash would be released pending further investigation.
A veteran Iranian fighter jet pilot, Brigadier General Kioumars Heidarian, previously commented on the impact of sanctions on the country’s ability to maintain and modernize its fleet. He noted that outdated equipment and limited access to spare parts contribute significantly to the frequency of accidents in the country’s air force.
“Accidents happen everywhere, but if the equipment is complete, it is natural that the number of accidents will be fewer,” Heidarian said in 2022.
