All 66 onboard dead as passenger plane crashes in central IranSearch helicopters finally located the crash site after a break in the weather on Tuesday at a height of around 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) in the Dena range. “We decided that those bodies that can be carried down would be brought down by army commandos or by the emergency services,” he said. Iran cannot confirm missing plane found, freeze hampers searchCrevasses and the risk of avalanches made the operation hazardous and time-consuming, emergency officials said. The crash of the ATR-72 twin-engine plane, which had been in service since 1993, has reawakened concerns over aviation safety in Iran, which has been exacerbated by international sanctions over the years. It was one of only three airlines barred over safety concerns — the other 190 being blacklisted due to broader concerns over oversight in their respective countries.

Source: The Express Tribune February 21, 2018 10:41 UTC