A tragic accident occurred in Hamadan province in western Iran on Thursday night, when an Iranian Air Force fighter jet crashed during a night training mission, killing one pilot and injuring another, according to official media reports in the country.
Details of the military plane crash
Iranian state television reported that the incident occurred late at night while the fighter jet was conducting routine training maneuvers. In an official statement carried by the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the Iranian Air Force's public relations office announced that the aircraft crashed due to a technical malfunction, the precise details of which have not yet been disclosed.
The statement read: "An Air Force aircraft crashed this evening during a night training mission in Hamadan province (western Iran)." The statement further clarified the casualties, saying: "One of the pilots was killed in the crash, while the other pilot survived." Military authorities indicated that investigation teams rushed to the crash site immediately to determine the technical causes and circumstances of the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.
Challenges facing the Iranian air fleet
This incident once again highlights the significant challenges facing the Iranian Air Force. The Iranian Air Force relies heavily on an aging fleet of fighter jets, many of which predate the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This fleet includes American-made F-4 Phantom, F-5, and F-14 Tomcat aircraft, as well as later-acquired Russian and Chinese aircraft.
This fleet suffers from significant maintenance and modernization difficulties due to decades of Western sanctions imposed on Tehran, which prevent the import of original spare parts or access to necessary technical support from manufacturers. This situation has forced Iranian engineers to rely on reverse engineering and the local manufacturing of spare parts to maintain aircraft operational readiness, a persistent technical challenge.
Military aviation accident record
Military aircraft crashes have become frequent in Iran in recent years, often attributed to technical malfunctions resulting from the age of the aircraft. Training missions, especially night flights, are crucial for maintaining pilots' combat readiness, but they carry increased risks given the fleet's current technical condition.
Despite these challenges, Iran continues to conduct regular exercises to bolster its air defense capabilities, given the strategic importance of its air force in protecting the country's airspace amid ongoing regional tensions. This incident serves as a reminder of the human and material costs incurred by the military establishment as a result of these difficult operational conditions.
