Iranian media are reporting the country's aviation organization has temporarily banned flights of all ATR-72 aircraft after a deadly crash that killed 65. The official IRNA news agency reports that Iran's Aviation Organization said Aseman Airlines ATR72-200 and ATR72-500 flights will be banned until further notice. The statement reads: "In order to make sure of the improvement of this type of aircraft's safety, it is necessary to stop their flights temporarily." An Aseman Airlines twin-engine turboprop ATR-72 used for short-distance regional flying went down Sunday in foggy weather. Under decades of international sanctions, Iran's commercial passenger aircraft fleet has aged, with air accidents occurring regularly in recent years.

Source: ABC News February 23, 2018 11:29 UTC