IranAir jet crashes in northwest Iran; 50 survive

Around half of 95 passengers survive crash with light injuries; no confirmed information on deaths, reports Iranian media.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
iran plane crash 248 88 (photo credit: AP)
iran plane crash 248 88
(photo credit: AP)
TEHERAN, Iran — An IranAir passenger plane crashed Sunday in the country's northwest, and around half of the 95 people on board survived with light injuries, Iranian media reported.
The Boeing-727 crashed shortly before it was to land in the city of Orumiyeh, 460 miles (700 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Teheran, said Abbas Mosayebi, spokesman of the Iranian civil aviation organization, state TV reported.
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There was no confirmed information on any dead.
The semiofficial Fars news agency quoted the head of the State Emergency Center, Gholam Reza Masoumi, as saying 50 people survived with light injuries. That report said there was bad weather and fog in the area.
Iran has a history of frequent air accidents blamed on its aging aircraft and poor maintenance. In July 2009 a Russian-made jetliner crashed in northwest Iran shortly after taking off from the capital, killing all 168 on board.
In February 2003, a Russian-made Ilyushin 76 carrying members of the Revolutionary Guard crashed in the mountains of southeastern Iran, killing 302 people aboard.